VisitScotland Business Events hosted more than 50 guests, representing 40 global associations and organisations, for an evening of innovation and collaboration at the Carnegie Institute for Science in Washington DC. 

The second VisitScotland Association Reception of the year brought together senior association representatives from a diverse range of sectors including aviation; women’s health; world justice; investments; biology; behavioural health; biotechnology; nephrology and dental research.

The key themes for the evening included a look at the story and history of the Carnegie Institute, the importance of face to face meetings – as advocated by PCMA’s CEO Sherrif Karamat. VisitScotland Business Events also focused the evening around Scotland’s innovation and famous pioneering spirit as well as the importance of business events as a tool for economic and social change.

The reception represents a continuation of Scotland’s bold new strategy for engaging with associations around the world. The country is home to world class researchers and facilities; which associations and their delegates can access. The exchange of ideas, making new friends and colleagues, and the forging of new partnerships that in time, can create real change – this is the true power and possibility of association conferences, and in Scotland this can be a reality.

Rory Archibald, Associations & Sectors, VisitScotland Business Events said: “Bringing our Association Reception across the Atlantic has been very well received. It was a fantastic opportunity to reach out to our business events colleagues in the US and showcase what an exciting destination Scotland is. Each association that comes to the country has the power to leave its mark, and equally to learn from Scotland. We are very much looking forward to continuing to spread the word on Scotland as a destinations the ensures that business events in the country are a catalyst for economic and social change.”

Guests were able to sample some traditional Scottish hospitality and the chance to test their knowledge of Scotland’s culture, folklore and innovation during the inaugural game of ‘Who wants to be a Scotlanaire?’.