Invest in Angus

VisitScotland bitesize webinars: choose a tourism experience booking system
2025-05-08 14:00 - 14:30 UTC
Discover how an online booking system can transform your operations from streamlining processes to maximising bookings – make sure it’s one of the most important tools in your marketing arsenal.
This webinar is aimed at tourism experiences (tours, visitor attractions and activity providers) only.

Scottish Agritourism Month Roadshow: Dunlop Dairy
2025-05-09 12:00 - 14:30 | Dunlop Dairy, Dunlop Road, Stewarton, KA3 5LP
This meeting is part of a series of events hosted during Scottish Agritourism month and in the lead-up to Scottish Agritourism turning five years old on June 1st 2025. Everyone with an interest in agritourism is welcome to attend.
We’ll be shining a light on the development of agritourism both in the local area and nationally, sharing Scotland-wide success stories and sector challenges, and opening up discussion with others who play a part in supporting rural and agritourism. You will also hear from Dunlop Dairy about how they’ve developed their business – a traditional Ayrshire cheesemaker, with a range of farmhouse cheeses sold in their Cheese Shop and Tearoom.
You can expect a sector update from Scottish Agritourism on the work we are doing, along with agencies from the national strategy board, to grow and develop agritourism in Scotland in line with national targets. We’ll be celebrating five years of Scottish Agritourism – lunch will be provided and yes, there will be cake!

Scottish Agritourism Month Roadshow: Logie Newton Lodges
2025-05-16 08:00 - 10:00 | Logie Newton Farm, Huntly, AB54 6BB
This meeting is part of a series of events hosted during Scottish Agritourism month and in the lead-up to Scottish Agritourism turning five years old on June 1st 2025. Everyone with an interest in agritourism is welcome to attend.
We’ll be shining a light on the development of agritourism both in the local area and nationally, sharing Scotland-wide success stories and sector challenges, and opening up discussion with others who play a part in supporting rural and agritourism. You will also hear from Logie Newton Lodges about how they’ve developed their business – a luxury self-catering site, with two recently opened lodges available to book.
You can expect a sector update from Scottish Agritourism on the work we are doing, along with agencies from the national strategy board, to grow and develop agritourism in Scotland in line with national targets. We’ll be celebrating five years of Scottish Agritourism – bacon rolls, teas and coffees will be provided by Scottish Agritourism member Thorney Bank Farm Shop, and yes, there will be cake!

Scottish Agritourism Month Roadshow: Castlecraig Farm
2025-05-22 12:00 - 14:30 | Castlecraig Farms, IV19 1QS
This meeting is part of a series of events hosted during Scottish Agritourism month and in the lead-up to Scottish Agritourism turning five years old on June 1st 2025. Everyone with an interest in agritourism is welcome to attend.
We’ll be shining a light on the development of agritourism both in the local area and nationally, sharing Scotland-wide success stories and sector challenges, and opening up discussion with others who play a part in supporting rural and agritourism.
One key challenge for businesses is making sure they have the right insurance in place – so we’re especially pleased to have Howden Insurance as our event sponsor. Their support helps make this event possible, and their Farm & Estate team understands the unique needs of agritourism businesses.
You will also hear from Castlecraig Farm about how they’ve developed their business – luxury farm cabins on the coast of the Moray Firth.
You can expect a sector update from Scottish Agritourism on the work we are doing, along with agencies from the national strategy board, to grow and develop agritourism in Scotland in line with national targets. We’ll be celebrating five years of Scottish Agritourism – lunch will be provided and yes, there will be cake!

VisitScotland bitesize webinars: start working with online travel agents
2025-05-22 14:00 - 14:30
Discover how an online travel agent (OTA) can increase bookings and profitability without detracting from direct bookings. Get practical tips on how to create an OTA listing and how to manage your relationship with an OTA.
For tourism experiences (tours, visitor attractions and activity providers) that want to use OTAs for the first time.

Making the Most of Online Travel Agents for Your Farm Experience
2025-05-29 12:00 - 13:00
In this informative webinar delivered by VisitScotland, you’ll learn about working with Online Travel Agents (OTAs), with a focus on how to distribute your farm experiences through these platforms. The session will explore the visitor journey and the growing value of the experience economy – where travellers are seeking memorable, meaningful activities.
You’ll hear about which OTAs can help improve visibility for your experiences, how to create compelling listings, and the benefits and considerations of working with OTAs. Accommodation distribution will be covered briefly, but the main focus will be on experiences.
This session is suitable for agritourism businesses thinking about listing their farm experiences on an OTA platform, or those already listed who want to improve their presence.

Scottish Agritourism Month Roadshow: Errington Cheese
2025-05-30 08:30 - 10:30 | Errington Cheese, Walston Braehead Farm, Lanark, ML11 8NF
This meeting is part of a series of events hosted during Scottish Agritourism month and in the lead-up to Scottish Agritourism turning five years old on June 1st 2025. Everyone with an interest in agritourism is welcome to attend.
We’ll be shining a light on the development of agritourism both in the local area and nationally, sharing Scotland-wide success stories and sector challenges, and opening up discussion with others who play a part in supporting rural and agritourism. You will also hear from Errington Cheese about how they’ve developed their business – a Scottish farmhouse cheese producer.
You can expect a sector update from Scottish Agritourism on the work we are doing, along with agencies from the national strategy board, to grow and develop agritourism in Scotland in line with national targets. We’ll be celebrating five years of Scottish Agritourism – breakfast will be provided and yes, there will be cake!

Doors Open Days Participant Information Session
2025-05-30 12:00 - 12:30
This short information session by Scottish Civic Trust is for for venues, organisations, and individuals who are interested in taking part in this year’s Doors Open Days.
The session will cover the steps to register and apply, tips about the types of events that can be held, what marketing materials are available, an overview of evaluation, and how to get in touch. There will also be time to ask questions and speak with fellow participants.
There is no pre-registration required.
Joining Details (Zoom):
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81101557255?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 811 0155 7255
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Doors Open Days Participant Information Session
2025-05-31 13:00 - 13:30
This short information session by Scottish Civic Trust is for for venues, organisations, and individuals who are interested in taking part in this year’s Doors Open Days.
The session will cover the steps to register and apply, tips about the types of events that can be held, what marketing materials are available, an overview of evaluation, and how to get in touch. There will also be time to ask questions and speak with fellow participants.
There is no pre-registration required.
Joining Details (Zoom):
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81208132914?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 812 0813 2914
Passcode: [REDACTED]

VisitScotland bitesize webinars: The importance of the UK domestic market
2025-06-05 14:00 - 14:30
Discover the importance of the UK market and the performance of domestic tourism in Scotland.
This session will focus on who our domestic visitors are and what motivates them to plan, book and visit.
You will also hear about the future prospects for domestic tourism, current sentiment of UK residents and Scotland holiday intentions for 2025.

Scotland’s Towns Summer Session
2025-06-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ
Scotland’s Towns Partnership is delighted to invite key partners and stakeholders to a focused summer session, spotlighting the pivotal role of responsible tourism in driving forward Scotland’s local economies and place-based investment.
With a deepening emphasis on sustainable development, this event will explore how tourism strategies can not only align with but actively enhance the strategic direction of towns stakeholders – from local government and community groups to businesses and cultural organisations.
Keynote Speaker:
Vicki Miller, Chief Executive, VisitScotland
Vicki will present VisitScotland’s strategic vision and direction, with a sharp focus on partnership opportunities that advance local economic growth and resilience. She will dive into how the organisation is working collaboratively with Scotland’s Towns Partnership – particularly through initiatives like the Love Local campaign – to tap into the power of the Scottish diaspora, boost local spend, and support vibrant, distinctive places.
Fireside Chat:
Following Vicki’s presentation, a dynamic fireside chat will be hosted by:
Kimberley Guthrie, Chief Officer, Scotland’s Towns Partnership
Joining Kimberley and Vicki for this engaging discussion are:
Glasgow Life
Scotland’s Improvement Districts
Together, they will delve deeper into the future of responsible tourism, the importance of collaboration across cities and towns, and how place-based strategies are creating new opportunities for regeneration, cultural vibrancy, and economic growth.
Why Attend:
This intimate, invitation-only session provides an opportunity to:

Hear strategic insights directly from VisitScotland leadership
Engage in a thought-provoking fireside chat with urban and cultural leaders
Understand how national campaigns like Love Local are evolving
Discuss place-making and the value of partnership working
Connect with like-minded leaders committed to strengthening town economies

VisitScotland bitesize webinars: importance of international markets
2025-06-19 14:00 - 14:30
International visitors are vital for your business as you broaden your reach and reduce your risk.
Discover the volume and value that these international markets can bring, with practical tips on how to understand booking behaviours and reach these visitors.

ANGUSalive Exclusive Showcase at Monikie Country Park
2025-06-26 02:30 - 18:00 | Monikie Country Park, Monikie, DD5 3QA
ANGUSalive are holding a showcase event at Monikie Country Park on 26 June, from 2.30pm. Monikie Country Park boasts beautiful woodland and parkland with a variety of things to see and do, including land and water activities, self-led trails, and an adventure play park. This event is an ideal opportunity to find out about the extensive range of experiences on offer for visitors.
What you can expect:

2.30pm: Welcome & Refreshments. An introduction to Countryside Adventure – learn about the extensive range of experiences on offer at Monikie Country Park.
3.00pm: Find out more about our Land-based Activities, including bushcraft & survival skills, cycling, nature walks with one of our Countryside Rangers, and craft workshops.
4.00pm: Discover what water-based activities visitors can enjoy, including paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, and our newest addition – Angus Aqua Splash.
5.00pm: Try it for yourself! Angus Aqua Splash Session (optional); alternatively you could watch the session from shore and enjoy some networking
6.00pm: End

Places are limited, so please RSVP to: Scott Grant – scott.grant@angusalive.scot

Increasing the profitability of your agritourism business
2025-07-02 10:00 - 15:30 | Ernespie Farm, Castle Douglas, DG7 3JG
Join Scotland’s Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme for a talk on how to achieve increased profitability in an agritourism enterprise from Colin McNally, Finance Expert.
We will hear how using data to inform decision making has helped Monitor Farmer, David McMiken, make positive changes to the Ernespie Agritourism business including introducing a new enterprise. We will have a walk around and see first hand the developments that are ongoing.

VisitScotland bitesize webinars: attracting the European visitor
2025-07-03 14:00 - 14:30
Explore the great potential from the European market.
Discover the main inspirations for them booking a holiday to Scotland and how understanding their booking preferences and activities while in Scotland can provide you with a competitive advantage.
Learn how to leverage these insights to refine your marketing strategies.

Going for Green: Accrediting Your Agritourism Sustainability Story
2025-07-08 12:00 - 13:00
Join Scotland’s Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme to to welcome Diane Knight, Client Services Director, from Green Tourism, a world-leading sustainability certification for the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries.
Green Tourism helps businesses embed responsible and environmentally friendly practices that not only reduce impact but also enhance visitor appeal.
In this session, Diane will share how agritourism businesses can work towards Green Tourism accreditation, tell an authentic sustainability story, and turn their green credentials into a competitive advantage.

Launching a Wedding Venue: Lessons Learned & Planning Ahead
2025-07-17 10:00 - 16:00 | Kinclune Estate, Kirkton of Kingoldrum, Forfar, DD8 5HX
Kinclune Estate has recently opened its new wedding venue – hear from Aylwin Pillai as she shares insights from the journey so far, lessons learned along the way, and plans for the future.

VisitScotland bitesize webinars: attracting the North American visitor
2025-07-17 14:00 - 14:30
Unlock the potential of the North American market by understanding the unique characteristics and preferences of these visitors.
This webinar will explore how to reach them through various channels, and the role of distribution partners.
Gain insights into booking behaviours and learn how to tailor your product to meet their expectations.

Engaging with Travel Trade: Developing your Product Sheet
2025-07-22 12:00 - 13:00
Do you want to connect with Travel Trade opportunities and need some support ensuring the information you provide is as effective as possible?
In this webinar of the Agritourism Monitor Farm programme, you will be guided by the experts to create a practical sales tool to help you connect with the travel trade. Cassie McEwan from Visit Scotland will guide you step-by-step through building a simple, two-page product sheet that clearly showcases your agritourism experience.
You will learn what travel trade buyers are really looking for, how to structure your content, and what to include to make your business stand out. By the end, you’ll have a flexible template you can adapt and use—perfect for getting trade-show ready and making a great first impression.

Making Room for Sustainability in Hospitality and Tourism
2025-07-31 15:00 - 16:00
Join us to explore how data is transforming environmental sustainability in the hospitality and tourism sector.
The panel will examine how data is being used to monitor and improve material and water use, reduce waste, meet emissions goals and mitigate biodiversity impact.
As sustainability reporting requirements grow more complex, we will also hear how data can drive compliance, unlock efficiencies, and support long-term environmental goals.

Agritourism Development: A capital project for sustainable rural growth
2025-08-14 10:00 - 15:30 | The Commercial Hotel, 11 Main Street, Balintore, IV20 1UE
This Scotland’s Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme meeting will showcase the progress on the village hotel development by Monitor Farmers, Fiona and John Scott of Fearn Farm.
We will have a walk around the hotel development and hear about the progress to date. We will then convene in the Seaboard Hall for presentations and discussion.
Fiona and John Scott, Monitor Farmers, have been making great progress with the re-development of the hotel and will update us on their business plan, the project timeline and the challenges they have overcome along the way.
Lesley McArthur, Glen Clova Estate Partner, will join us to talk about her experience running a successful rural hotel and restaurant business and will highlight the continuing challenges but also the opportunities for the business. Glen Clova Hotel have recently undertaken a significant developed with a new events space called The Barn which continues their focus on sustainability, local impact with a warm, personal service.

ANGUSalive’s ‘On Stage’ Launch
2025-08-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Webster Memorial Theatre, 64 High Street, Arbroath, DD11 1AW
Join us for an exclusive event at The Webster Memorial Theatre in Arbroath, as we launch our latest ‘On Stage’ brochure, outlining the programme of upcoming performances across ANGUSalive venues.
Discover how your business can take centre stage with us, learn how we can support each other when performances come to town, and connect with other local businesses.
We hope you can join us to find out more about our plans, hear some top tips from businesses who have benefited from past performances, and enjoy a tour of the theatre.
Refreshments will be provided.

Collaborating for change: Growing responsible tourism
2025-09-04 12:00 - 13:00
Effective collaboration can be a route to growing sustainable agritourism through enhanced visitor numbers, unique experiences and improved visibility of your offer.
Jillian McEwan, Agritourism Monitor Farm Core Community Group member will share insights into growing sustainable tourism through collaboration. We will hear about the work of the Lunan Bay Community Group in providing visitor infrastructure in the bay. Highlighted examples will include a collaboration between the Community Group, Arbikie Distillery and Insights Coaches; facilitation of new signage, an all-abilities viewing platform and a community ranger service which all improve the visitor experience to the area.
We will also hear about a new Goat to Garment Tour which Lunan Bay Farm is launching in September in collaboration with partner Johnsons.

VisitScotland bitesize webinars: Introduction to travel distribution
2025-09-04 14:00 - 14:30
Discover how travel distribution can help you reach more potential visitors and grow your business. This session will introduce the key travel distribution partners from tour operators to online travel agents.
Perfect for those new to travel distribution, this webinar offers a clear and simple introduction.

Driving Success in Scotland's Hospitality & Accommodation Sector
2025-09-16 10:30 - 12:00
The hotel market in Scotland has seen mixed performance this year, driven largely by an increase in supply in the capital. While Edinburgh remains a strong market, the growth in hotel stock — alongside a noticeable slowdown in the domestic audience, greater price sensitivity, and a reduction in short-term let accommodation — has created tougher year-on-year comparisons. Other regions across Scotland, however, have continued to perform well, supported by steady demand and major events such as Oasis and AC/DC shows bringing strong peaks in occupancy.
International investors continue to be attracted to the country and are driving an exuberant transactions market, which is set to grow further this year and is seen as a focal point for significant capital deployment.
While the outlook for the strong pipeline of hotels remains positive, particularly in the luxury segment, the industry faces a series of headwinds, including the confirmed tourism levies in Edinburgh (5% for all bookings made for stays from July 2026 onwards, for reservations made from 1st October 2025) and Aberdeen (7% from April 2027), as well as an ongoing skills shortage. These factors are placing pressure on profits and Scotland’s ability to remain competitive as a leading tourist destination.
The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) is delighted to once again be partnering with HotelPartner, a trusted market leader in revenue management and distribution services for the hospitality and tourism industry, to explore the solutions available to Scottish hoteliers to ensure that the market can continue to thrive.
Whether you operate a luxury hotel, a budget accommodation, a boutique property, or a youth hostel, this webinar will share accessible and actionable advice on tackling challenges such as the skills shortage, optimising performance, and making the most effective use of technology in your operations.

Unlocking the Potential: The Power of Inclusive Marketing
2025-09-17 11:00 - 12:00
Open to all Scottish tourism business.
Join us for an insightful session designed to help you maximise your impact in the inclusive tourism market.
We’ll explore:

Current market insights from Sarah Muir, Product Manager (Abbey UK), a travel intermediary working directly with clients seeking inclusive holiday experiences. Learn what information these customers need to confidently choose your business.
Inclusive marketing in action with expert Carrie-Ann Lightley (Accessible Travel Writer & content creator ), who will share practical tips on how to use photography, content, and messaging to authentically connect with this growing market.
Support tools and resources available through our Business Support Hub to help you implement what you’ve learned and enhance your visibility to inclusive travellers.

This is a valuable opportunity to strengthen your approach and better connect with the inclusive tourism market.

VisitScotland bitesize webinars: How to work with travel distribution partner
2025-09-18 14:00 - 14:30
Get advice on how to pitch your business to a travel distribution partner and create a handy product sheet. Learn how to focus on your key selling points, tailor your message to different audiences, and create variety in your delivery.
Ideal for those looking to start building relationships with travel distribution partners and attend trade events.

Managing people, growing agritourism: Performance and Discipline
2025-09-25 12:00 - 13:00
Employment Law and Human Resource Management Expert, Sophie Henderson of Greenburn will take us through an overview of how to use performance management effectively with your staff to ensure best outcomes. Sophie will also provide information on what to do when things go wrong with insights into the disciplinary process.
If you have specific questions or case studies, it would be great to hear from you in advance and Sophie can answer your questions on the day.

VisitScotland bitesize webinars: How to Improve Your Search Engine Rankings
2025-09-25 14:00 - 14:30
Demystify the world of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and learn how to grow your tourism or event website’s organic search traffic. We’ll cover the SEO basics, common myths and mistakes, as well as how you can adapt your content to the quickly-changing Google landscape.
Ideal for those unfamiliar with SEO or looking to expand their approach.

VisitScotland bitesize webinars: Optimise your website with UX fundamentals
2025-10-16 14:00 - 14:30
Want to make your tourism website easier and more enjoyable for your visitors?
In this introductory UX (User Experience) webinar, you’ll learn simple, practical tips to understand what your users really need, so your site feels welcoming and easy to navigate.
Ideal for tourism businesses looking for an easy introduction to website optimisation.
