The Rockpool Podcasts Team were on location at the Carlton Hotel in Prestwick recording live from the Ayrshire & Arran Tourism Conference which took place on Wednesday 15th March 2023. Proudly supported by RAD Hotel Group, Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland, the full day industry event brought together the hospitality and tourism sector and was the first of its kind and a unique opportunity for people and businesses to come together, learn, and network with others.
Produced by John McBlain and hosted by Evan Keen, Linda Corbett, Nicole Cullen, Nicole Kilpatrick, Nathan Harkins and Ryan Robertson with photography and digital support from Andrew Dooner, this episode includes just under 2 hours of audio, 24 interviews and the entire closing panel speeches that concluded the event.
Please make sure to check out our Photo Gallery website at: www.bit.ly/rockpool_aa_conference. As always, links to the Rockpool Podcasts website, mech store, social media AND our new Rockpool Podcasts App are on our LinkTree at: www.linktr.ee/rockpoolpodcasts.
Organised by the Ayrshire & Arran Destination Alliance and by partners including East, North and South Ayrshire Councils, VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise, over 120 delegates from across the region were in attendance at the Ayrshire & Arran Tourism Conference for the launch of the Ayrshire & Arran Visitor Economy Strategy and to hear plans for regional action to deliver this over the next few years.
Alongside keynote speakers there were breakout sessions covering digital tourism, food and drink, skills and employability, community wealth building and fair work with representatives from across the sector and ministerial address from Ivan McKee MSP - Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise - sharing his thoughts on the opportunities and challenges faced by the sector, looking ahead to delivery of the Ayrshire & Arran Visitor Economy Strategy and the difference this can make to the region.
Many thanks to the following people who spent time with our team and gave their voices to this episode:
Ivan McKee MSP – Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise
Daniel Steel – Chief Executive Officer, Ayrshire & Arran Destination Alliance
Rob Dickson – Director of Industry & Destination Development, Visit Scotland
Joshua Ryan-Saha – Director Traveltech for Scotland
Justin Reid – Director of Media, Destinations, Hotel & Growth at TripAdvisor
Linda Johnston – Managing Director of Auchrannie Resort
Marc Crothall MBE - Scottish Tourism Alliance
Fiona Richmond – Scotland Food & Drink
Elaine Hutton – Assistant Principal, Ayrshire College
Anne Marie McCabe - Scottish Enterprise
Ailsa Currie – Bellevue Farm
Linda Blackwood – NFU Mutual
Craig Perkins – Geronimo Sailing
Alastair Dobson – Taste of Arran
Johnny Manning – Connekt – EV Charging
Angus White – Direct Distribution
Craig Lawless – VisitScotland
Andrew Walsh – VisitArran
Esther Tacke – Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere Partnership
Gordon Smith – VisitScotland
Sheila Gilmore – VisitArran
Robert Kyle – RAD Group Ltd
Anthony Gurney – North Ayrshire Council
Adity Houison Craufurd – Craufurdland LtdFor further information on the conference please click here to check out the VisitScotland website.
