SCOTO - Scottish Community Tourism National Gathering & Learning Exchange
2024-02-29 09:00 - 2024-03-01 17:00 UTC | Cairndale Hotel, English Street, Dumfries, DG1 2DF
Welcome to the much-anticipated return of the Scottish National Community Tourism Gathering!

Following the resounding success of last year’s event, hailed as the ‘friendliest’ conference by many attendees, we’re thrilled to announce that this year’s gathering is heading to the “Queen of the South”, Dumfries.
Meet us at the Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries where we’ll celebrate SCOTO Network’s mission to build skills, connections and confidence in people working in community-led tourism.
The theme of the conference this year is ‘Press Pause’ – we want communities to take time out to consider what is working, what isn’t working and how things could be done better/differently to ensure tourism helps make your community an even better place to live, work and visit.
Your participation is not just an event attendance but an opportunity to share insights, experiences and innovative ideas that can contribute and empower the SCOTO Network.
Whether you’re a community tourism activist or simply interested in knowing more about community led tourism in Scotland, this gathering is perfect for you.
Connect with like-minded individuals from across Scotland, share ideas, and discover new ways to develop and promote responsible tourism, which brings real benefits back into the host community.
See the event programme.

Unlocking the potential of Accessible Tourism
2024-03-05 11:30 - 12:30
In this introduction to accessible and inclusive tourism, hear from VisitScotland’s Inclusive Tourism Manager about the value of accessible tourism market, the barriers that some consumers face and how best to attract these extremely loyal customers.
The session will also include information about Accessibility Guides, what are they and why are they important to this market. Insights on this will be provided by Carrie-Ann Lightley, Head of Marketing at AccessAble, an accessibility guide specialist.
We will also hear from Pippa Stacey an award-winning writer, speaker, and charity sector communication consultant about her experience of travelling and living her best life alongside chronic illness.
Both Carrie-Ann and Pippa have been named in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list multiple times.
Packed with practical advice and top tips to implement in your business, guidance on a range of helpful resources, and key insights into this valuable market this workshop is not to be missed.

Accessible tourism - welcoming all customers
2024-03-11 14:00 - 16:30 | St James Quarter, Edinburgh, EH1 3AD
This half-day training course focuses specifically on customer service for disabled customers, which also benefits other customer groups. This is the second in a series of inclusive and accessible tourism events.
Participants will learn about:

adopting a positive attitude to all customers and anticipating accessibility requirements
successful communication styles to identify customer needs
legal obligations and types of discrimination

This interactive session will include activities, exercises, and discussions. Each participant will receive a guide containing practical tips. Participants also receive a jointly branded VisitScotland / Welcome to Excellence attendance certificate.
Normally, a full-day course would cost organisations £950 + VAT for 16 delegate places. However, ETAG in partnership with VisitScotland are giving 16 businesses the opportunity to attend a condense version of the course, for a reduced cost of £15 per person.
Please note that there are only 16 places available on this training workshop. To allow more businesses the opportunity to be trained, only one person from each business can sign up to attend.
These events are aimed at tourism businesses only who operate on a B2C (business to consumer) or B2B (business to business) basis.
Unfortunately, no places are available for intermediaries, consultants or suppliers of services.

Scottish Tourism Month 2024: The Signature Conference
2024-03-12 09:00 - 2024-03-13 17:00 | P&J Live, East Burn Road, Aberdeen, AB21 9FX, United Kingdom
March is dedicated to Scottish Tourism Month; an opportunity to amplify the voice of the tourism and hospitality industry, recognising its enormous contribution to Scotland and highlighting the support it needs to overcome the immense challenges it faces to grow sustainably.
The flagship event of Scottish Tourism Month, The Signature Conference, will explore these themes from Tuesday 12th to Wednesday 13th March 2024 at the P&J Live in Aberdeen
Delivered as a collaboration between leading industry trade bodies, The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA), the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) and the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA), the event is designed to connect, engage and empower organisations in and related to the sector.
The biggest conference of its kind in Scotland, the event will bring together the leading voices in the industry and beyond to deliver a high-quality programme which will cover:

The latest trends and insights across travel, tourism, hospitality, food and drink, the economy and policy.
Useful information and actionable advice to take into your business
Inspirational stories and relevant examples of innovation
Best practice and knowledge sharing

Programme coming soon – early 2024.

Scotland's Marine Tourism Conference 2024
2024-03-19 09:30 - 16:00 | The Waterside, Ardrossan Road, West Kilbride, KA23 9NG
Part of the national Scottish Tourism Month Programme and proudly sponsored by North Ayrshire Council, this is not just Sail Scotland members, everyone related to the industry is welcome to come together, learn, and network with others.
The event is for everyone with an interest in the marine tourism sector; whether it’s the delivery, skills, supply chain, marketing or development.
This year, the event will be focusing on:

the strategic importance of marine tourism and sustainable and responsible consumer behaviour
the importance of continued investment in marketing, infrastructure, and product development
opportunities and things to think about now
how everyone can collaborate to grow marine tourism further

The programme is still being finalised but it will include input from:

Fiona Hyslop MSP – Minister for Transport
Gavin McDonagh – Chairman of Sail Scotland and MD of Holt Leisure Group
Rob Dickson – Director of Industry and Destination Development, VisitScotland
Joshua Ryan-Saha – Director of Traveltech for Scotland Daniel Steel – CEO, Sail Scotland
Sinead Sheridan – Marine Planning and Policy Officer for NatureScot

Please remember that tickets are limited, and this event has often sold out in the past.
So, please book early and come along to join the debate and hear from our line-up of expert speakers, with more to be announced soon!

Responsible Tourism for a Sustainable Future
2024-03-19 15:00 - 16:00
In an exciting new partnership, VisitScotland are working with The Travel Corporation (TTC) and the Travel Foundation, to host a free “Responsible Tourism for a Sustainable Future” webinar.
The one-hour webinar on Tuesday 19 March will offer Scottish tourism businesses an insight into what global tour operators are looking for when choosing a business to work with in Scotland and advice on futureproofing your products and services.
The session will include guest speakers, case studies, free tools available to help businesses with their climate action planning, as well as advice on creating bookable experiences for tour operators – a key booking channel for international visitors.
The Travel Corporation is a global operator whose brands include Contiki, Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Brendan Vacations and Trafalgar. As well as sharing the latest consumer trends, the Travel Corporation will also outline the opportunities to support its development of MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® Experiences and its collective mission to reduce emissions in its tour programmes globally.
As part of our ongoing work to support the industry on its journey to low carbon, the “Responsible Tourism for a Sustainable Future” webinar will include information about the free tools and resources available to help Scottish tourism businesses meet their net zero targets including our Climate Action Planning guide.

VisitScotland Connect 2024
2024-04-17 09:00 - 2024-04-18 17:00 | P&J Live, East Burn Road, Aberdeen, AB21 9FX, United Kingdom
VisitScotland Connect 2024 will be taking place at the P&J Live Aberdeen on April 17-18, 2024.
VisitScotland Connect 2023 marked our first in-person event since the COVID-19 pandemic. The new workshop style format helped 175 tourism businesses connect with over 250 tour operators and travel advisors representing 23 countries.
Our 2024 event will follow the same a business-to-business travel trade workshop structure, connecting Buyers from around the globe with Scottish tourism businesses.
Please note: VisitScotland Connect 2024 is a closed event and only pre-approved businesses will be allowed entry.

ASSC regional gathering: navigating change, embracing opportunity
2024-04-22 13:00 - 17:00 | Perth Theatre, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ
The ASSC invites you to their first regional gathering of 2024, aimed at businesses and organisations involved in the self-catering sector.
The afternoon will kick off with ample networking opportunities, bringing together fellow operators, tourism professionals, and the dedicated team at ASSC. It’s a prime chance to connect with several dynamic partners and enjoy a diverse range of offerings. From sustainable products to indispensable services like insurance, banking, and booking agents, there’s something for everyone to explore.
The event includes a fantastic line-up of speakers, including Tiomóid Foley, VisitScotland Net Zero Manager, and Scott MacLean, Managing Director of Green Tourism. Additionally, ASSC CEO, Fiona Campbell, will provide updates on pertinent topics such as short-term let licensing and planning, FHL abolition, and the visitor levy.
Furthermore, there will be a panel discussion titled “Leading change: empowering the self-catering sector for responsible tourism and climate action”, featuring ASSC Chair, Clare Winskill, and Gordon Drummond of Cairngorm Lodges amongst others.
This gathering isn’t just about convening; it’s about bringing together Scotland’s self-catering community to honour and celebrate Earth Day and embrace the mission of responsible tourism.
Embark on a journey to champion sustainability, empower the industry, and pave the way for a brighter, greener future.
Mark your calendars and join this event to kick-start your journey to make a meaningful difference in Scotland’s self-catering sector.

Creating accessible destinations
2024-04-30 12:30 - 14:00
Accessibility is rightly growing in importance. Those organisations who get it right reap the benefits of accessing the disability market.
You will gain better access to customers by providing better access to:

physical destinations and attractions
website information

Making your destination accessible will naturally improve visitor satisfaction. It will encourage repeat bookings and boost positive word-of-mouth communication.
Information is fundamental. Research shows that 83% of people are looking for access information when planning a trip will use a destination’s website. But only 39% find this information easily.
The key is making access information easily accessible which will be covered in this interactive workshop session.

Unlocking Angus: Harnessing Data For Tourism Success
2024-05-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Hospitalfield, Arbroath, DD11 2NH
This presentation is tailored to tourism businesses in Angus, aimed at revealing the power of data. In this session you’ll explore actionable insights, innovative strategies, and cutting-edge tools designed to enhance your business’s competitive edge.
Our expert speakers from the Moffat Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University will guide you through practical examples and case studies showcasing how data-driven decision-making can transform your marketing efforts, drive sustainable growth and monitor performance.
From understanding visitor trends to pinpointing untapped market opportunities, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive in an increasingly data-driven world.

Recruiting, Training & Retaining Staff - Monitor Farms Programme
2024-05-21 10:00 - 16:00 | Charleton Farm, Montrose, DD10 9EW
This Monitor Farm meeting takes place on Tuesday 21 May 2024 at Charleton Fruit Farm and Arbikie Distillery. The focus of the meeting is on recruiting, training and retaining staff.
Registration is at 10am at Charleton Fruit Farm with the meeting starting at 10.30am and lunch will be provided.
Graeme and Lisa from Charleton will provide a tour of the business and speak about staffing within their business. There will also be experts providing further information on the topic including employment law.
We will then move to Arbikie Distillery at 2.30pm for the final part of the meeting and a representative from Arbikie will speak about how the business has developed over the past few years and how they recruit, train and retain a great staff team. This will be followed by a tour of the distillery and the new accommodation.
All welcome.
The meeting itself is free to attend and all agritourism, rural tourism and rural food and drink businesses are welcome as well as farmers and crofters considering agritourism.

Build your Business Confidence in Tourism
2024-06-18 10:00 - 13:00 | Strathmore Rugby Club, Inchmacoble Park, Forfar, DD8 1RL
Do you feel your business confidence could use a boost?
This is your chance to enhance your tourism expertise with professional support.
This course is designed for individuals who understand the importance of working on their business, not just in it. In the initial masterclass you will be encouraged to audit your own business or business idea, identify key areas impacting your success and explore tools and techniques to overcome your obstacles.
The two follow-up sessions are designed as individual consultations, providing attendees with the opportunity to discuss their specific business needs. This ensures that you will finish the course feeling more confident and armed with your very own business action plan.
Throughout the course, you’ll be supported by our friendly and relatable course leaders, Kate Mason and Debbie Hutchison, two local businesswomen with years of experience in building tourism brands. They understand first-hand the challenges you face and how to overcome them.
Book now and take the first step towards transforming your business today!

STP Learning Event: Creating Inclusive and Accessible Towns and Places
2024-06-24 10:00 - 11:30
As the go-to body for towns, STP continues to support Scottish Government’s delivery of the Town Centre Action Plan vision – “Towns and town centres are for the wellbeing of people, planet and the economy. Towns are for everyone, and everyone has a role to play in making their own town and town centres successful.”
Our wider work programme covers action themes of planning, town centre first, taxation and fiscal levers, town centre living, digital towns, enterprising communities and vibrant local economies, climate action, measuring and evaluating progress, demonstrator towns.
As part of this work programme, our 2023 – 2024 Learning Event Series has covered Climate, Digital, and Community Wealth Building. The fourth and final topic in this series centres around inclusive and accessible towns.
Learning Event #4 – Creating Inclusive and Accessible Towns and Places
Imagine a town where every individual, regardless of age, ability, or background, can navigate with ease and participate fully in community life, supporting the vulnerable, elderly, disabled and young families. This not only enhances the quality of life for residents but also boosts the local economy by attracting residents and tourists from all walks of life.
The event will explore why we should invest in accessibility? What makes a place accessible? Is it good for business? – exploring the benefits, challenges and solutions around pedestrianisation.
Join us to envision and discuss practical steps toward creating towns and places that are inclusive, accessible, and economically vibrant, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Chaired by STP’s Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie, our speakers will share context, vision and success stories. But importantly, this event features you! With an opportunity for participants to share their experience and ideas.
This session is for anyone with an interest in supporting Scotland’s people, planet and economy to flourish, but especially relevant to those involved in place-based initiatives from across public, private and third sectors.

Is it too soon to talk about the C word?
2024-08-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Pathhead Farm, Forfar Road, Kirriemuir, DD8 5BY
Join us for an exciting joint networking event with Appetite for Angus at the Pathhead Farm Shop and Café. This event is your chance to connect with like-minded individuals and businesses in your community and to kickstart your business’s Christmas plans.
Learn about upcoming events hosted by both Business Gateway and Appetite for Angus, and explore the various support options available to you in the lead-up to the festive season.
In addition to networking, you will have the chance to hear from Ally, the owner of Pathhead Farm. Ally will share his vision for the farm shop and café while discussing his search for local suppliers to feature in his business. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore potential collaborations and gain insights into local market opportunities.
Don’t miss this opportunity to network with local businesses and discover how you can benefit from the resources and support provided by Business Gateway and Appetite for Angus.

Telling Your Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainability Story
2024-08-22 10:00 - 16:00 | Kinclune Estate, Kirkton of Kingoldrum, Forfar, DD8 5HX
The next Angus Agritourism Monitor Farm meeting takes place on Thursday 22nd August at Kinclune Estate, Kirkton of Kingoldrum, Kirriemuir, Angus DD8 5HX
The focus of the meeting is on ‘Telling Your Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainability Story’.
We will hear from Monitor Farmer Aylwin Pillai on the progress of the build of their new wedding venue and an update on how the Highland pony tours and accommodation is performing.
We will then take a walk up the hill behind Kinclune, where you will find out more from Virginia Osborne about how to tell an engaging story about conservation, biodiversity and sustainability.
The meeting itself is free to attend and all agritourism, rural tourism and rural food and drink businesses are welcome as well as farmers and crofters considering agritourism.

Maximising Trade Show Success
2024-08-29 14:00 - 16:00 | Strathmore Rugby Club, Inchmacoble Park, Forfar, DD8 1RL
Are you looking to exhibit at trade shows in the UK or overseas? This workshop will teach you proven strategies to maximise your participation through pre-event, on-site, and post-event tactics. These tips will help you capitalise on your participation, meet your target audience, and stand out from competitors.
With over 25 years of experience in PR and marketing, our expert speaker Mandy Queen has created successful campaigns for more than 40 trade shows, including top events like Cosmoprof, Paperworld, and Seafood Expo.
In this workshop, Mandy will explain how to attract the right people, engage with them effectively at the event, and maintain momentum afterwards.
Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your trade show success. Book your place now.

Scotland's Tay Country - Travel Trade Strategy Development Workshop
2024-09-03 14:00 - 17:00 | The Black Watch Castle & Museum, Perth, PH1 5HR
Are you a business in Scotland’s Tay Country that already engages with the travel trade or has recently undergone travel trade training? We have the pleasure of inviting you to our in-person Travel Trade follow-up session designed for you. This event will help enhance your travel trade strategy and support you in growing sales from international markets.
Event Details:

Date: Tuesday 3rd September
Time: 14.00 – 17.00hrs
Location: The Black Watch Castle & Museum, Perth
Duration: 3 hours
Refreshments Provided

Workshop Overview:
SESSION 1
Welcome and Update – Jemma Reid, Travel Trade Sales Representative, Scotland’s Tay Country: Start the event with an insightful update on the latest developments and opportunities in Scotland’s Tay Country.
Insights and Trends Update: Learn about the latest trends and insights from key markets, and understand what operators and their clients are currently looking for.

VisitScotland – Lynette McLennan
Expedia – Kim Kjaerside & Nicola Cunningham

Mini Breakout Sessions: Participate in focused breakout sessions to:
Discuss challenges and opportunities in driving more enquiries to your business and the region and identify key hurdles and explore collaborative solutions
Networking Break: Enjoy refreshments while connecting with fellow businesses, enabling new partnerships, and exchanging ideas.
SESSION 2
Feedback Review: Share key learnings, top tips and successes
Case Studies: Learn from two successful case studies showcasing their journey and achievements in the travel trade and giving you top tips and recommendations. Heather McArthur, Scone Palace & Louise Nicoll, Newton Farm
Panel Discussion: Engage with a panel of experienced operators during a Q&A session to address challenges and uncover opportunities for growth in travel trade enquiries.

Sarah Muir – Abbey Tours
Fiona Matthews – ASA
Jacqui Curley – Best of Scotland
Heather McArthur – Scone Palace
Louise Nicoll – Newton Farm

Summary of Support:
VisitScotland – Lynette McLennan: Discover the support their teams and channels can provide, and learn about opportunities to present and engage with tour operators.
UKInbound- Karen Jacques: Hear what the national membership organisation can do for your business.
Tay Country – Jemma Reid: Explore tools to support your business including newsletters, presentations and trade show representation.
Why Attend?

Gain valuable updates on the travel trade landscape
Collaborate with peers to overcome common challenges
Learn from successful case studies and industry experts
Expand your network within the travel trade community
Top tip takeaways
Together we can put Scotland’s Tay Country firmly on the map for tour operators and DMCs.

Climate action for tourism businesses
2024-09-03 14:30 - 15:30
We are delighted to invite you to an engaging and informative webinar focused on supporting tourism and hospitality businesses to take climate action. Working with VisitScotland, Green Tourism and Green Key this session is tailored for tourism businesses and event organizers who are committed to sustainability and eager to make a positive environmental impact.
This event is open to businesses from across the tourism and event supply chain including; hotels, venues, production companies, food and beverage suppliers, transportation, activity providers, attractions, tour operators, cruise agencies, travel agents, DMCs and/or PCOs.
Event Details:
Date: 3 September
Time: 14:30 to 15:20
Location: Webinar – Teams link will be sent to all those registered on Friday 30 August
Webinar Agenda:
2.30pm – Welcome from Glasgow Life
2.35pm – VisitScotland, Tiomoid Foley: Resources and support available for your businesses.
2.50pm – Green Key, Jamie Ormiston: An overview of the accreditation process and benefits.
3.00pm – Green Tourism, Scott MacLean: An overview of the accreditation process and benefits.
3.10pm – Q & A
3.20pm – Finish
Join us for this essential webinar and discover how your business can lead the way in climate action within the tourism and events sector. Gain valuable insights, access to innovative tools, and connect with like-minded professionals dedicated to sustainability.
RSVP: Please confirm your attendance by Tuesday 27 August by emailing anne-marie.gray@glasgowlife.org.uk
We look forward to your participation in this crucial conversation on sustainable tourism.

Perthshire Talks Responsible Tourism: unlock the potential of accessible tourism
2024-09-17 11:00 - 12:00
In this introduction to accessible and inclusive tourism, hear from VisitScotland’s Inclusive Tourism Manager about the value of the accessible tourism market, the barriers that some consumers face and how best to attract these extremely loyal customers.
The session will also include practical advice and top tips to implement in your business, guidance on a range of helpful resources, and key insights into this valuable market.

Cookery Schools, an opportunity for Agritourism?
2024-09-23 10:00 - 15:30 | Westerton Farmers, Laurencekirk, AB30 1RT
Westerton Farm is investigating setting up a cookery school as part of being one of the Agritourism Monitor Farmers.
Fiona Smith and Caroline Millar are travelling to Ireland mid September to visit Ballymalloe Cookery School. Ballymaloe is one of the most famous Cookery Schools in Europe and is also a working farm providing real ‘farm to fork’ cookery experiences.
Fiona will present feedback on the visit to Ballymalloe and her first hand experience of the two and a half day farm to fork experience. Fiona will also update those attending on where Westerton are with their own plans for a cookery school.
Please arrive at 10.00am for an 10.30am start with a 3.30pm finish.
Tea and coffee provided. For lunch, you will be able to purchase a takeaway lunch from the Farm to Table Shop onsite or if you prefer you can bring a packed lunch with you.
The meeting itself is free to attend and all agritourism, rural tourism and rural food and drink businesses are welcome as well as farmers and crofters considering agritourism.

Perthshire Talks Responsible Tourism: climate action planning
2024-09-26 11:00 - 12:00
Understand how your business can reduce emissions with our simple climate impact guide that includes VisitScotland’s easy-to-use, free climate action workbook.
Our new guide has been designed to help tourism businesses starting out on their climate action journey. Businesses further along in their climate action journey may still find it useful to incorporate elements of this guide into their current plans by developing more advanced actions.
Taking responsibility for your business emissions and activities is a big first step on the road to net zero.
The session will look at why taking climate action is important and cover our new beginner workbook and calculator along with six quick actions to get you started in your first 12 months.

Doing tourism differently: sustainability in travel
2024-09-27 09:30 - 16:00 | The Bruntsfield Hotel, 69-74 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4HH
This event is designed for travel and tourism professionals and experts, or simply anyone interested in sustainability and impact in travel.
The purpose of the day is to discuss how you can create impact through travel, how communities can get involved and / or benefit from the development of tourism as a sector, or how they can be involved in the design of activities, products, etc.
The day includes presentations on different themes with speakers from Geotourist, VisitScotland and LeithForth. There will also be discussion panels and workshops, with breaks in between for hot drinks and food. Refreshments and lunch (vegetarian) will be provided.

Build your Business Confidence in Tourism
2024-10-02 10:00 - 13:00 | Strathmore Rugby Club, Inchmacoble Park, Forfar, DD8 1RL
Do you already have a business in the tourism industry?
Are there aspects of the business that you are not so confident about?
Could professional input help your business grow?

If the answer to these questions is ‘yes’ then our ‘Build your Business Confidence in Tourism’ course has been designed for people just like you. It’s a short course, held over 3 sessions, recognising that time away from your business is valuable but also vital.
We will help you to audit your business and identify the key areas to focus your attention on to maximise potential. Plus, there will be the opportunity to up skill in best practice, and time to network with peers.

Perthshire Talks Responsible Tourism: accessibility information to promote your business
2024-10-02 11:00 - 12:00
Do you have accessibility facilities, such as accessible bedroom(s) or a quiet space, or has your venue been designed to cater for wheelchair users or visitors with hearing or sight impairments?
Do these facilities appeal to your current customer base? Do you provide detailed information about these facilities on your website?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, this session will be of interest to you.
This webinar will provide practical advice, top tips and guidance on how to use detailed access guides to market your business to new customers.
We’ll be joined by industry experts including Marina Di Duca, VisitScotland Inclusive Tourism Manager, Carrie-Ann Lightley, Head of Marketing at AccessAble, an accessibility guide specialist and Pippa Stacey, an award-winning writer, speaker and charity sector communication consultant.

Tourism Experiences: Boost your Bookings
2024-10-03 11:00 - 12:30
Join VisitScotland as we delve into the cutting-edge technology behind online booking and distribution in the first of our new series of digital skills webinars.
Whether you’re a visitor attraction, an activity provider, or a tour company, this webinar is tailor-made for you.
Taking place on 3 October, at 11am, this free session will delve into what modern online booking solutions can offer your business, from seamless reservations to business personalisation.
Hear about some game-changing functionality that can have a positive impact on the customer booking process and learn why strategic distribution is the key to filling empty slots, unfilled tours and driving growth.
We’ll look at effective distribution channels that maximise your reach and revenue. From collaborating with travel trade partners to leveraging Online Travel Agents (OTAs) and harnessing the power of Google Things To Do.
This webinar is not to be missed, packed full of support, insights and practical tips that you can implement within your business.

Tourism Experiences: Google Things To Do with Tourpreneur
2024-10-10 11:00 - 12:00
Join VisitScotland on our second webinar of the series. We’ll be joined by guests from Tourpreneur as we explore how Google Things to Do can boost your business visibility, attract eager travellers, and drive revenue.
Whether you’re a visitor attraction, an activity provider, or a tour company, this webinar is tailor-made for you.
Taking place on 10 October, at 11am, this free session will cover:
“Google Things to do” functionality. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a curious beginner, this webinar will introduce you to its potential and show you how to leverage it effectively.
Learn about the best ways to connect with Google Things To Do and the enrolment process, ensuring you’re set up to make the most of this powerful tool, with an opportunity to ask questions about your own set up.
This session is designed to give you a better understanding of the platform and we’ll be sharing best practice and examples from around the world.

Package travel regulations webinar
2024-10-22 11:00 - 12:30
Does your business sell two or more different types of travel or tourism services? Then you might have certain obligations under the rules on package travel and linked arrangements.
Join this webinar by VisitScotland and Travlaw for a detailed introduction to package travel regulations (PTR) and learn more about current UK and EU regulations.
Travlaw is a full service, travel-niche law firm. They provide legal advice that’s specifically tailored to meet the needs of the travel industry.

Product and Experience Innovation Workshop
2024-10-22 15:30 - 18:00 | Forbes of Kingennie, DD5 3RD
Product and Experience Innovation Workshop: Collaborate and innovate with local stakeholders to create experiences unique to Angus.
Angus Tourism Cooperative, Visit Angus and VisitScotland invite you to a dynamic Product and Experience Innovation Workshop, where you’ll gain valuable insights into current and emerging trends in the industry.
This event will take place on Tuesday 22 October, from 3.30pm to 6pm, at Forbes of Kingennie.
This is your chance to collaborate with fellow tourism professionals, brainstorm new ideas, and create innovative products and experiences that highlight the unique charm of Angus.
Together, let’s seize the opportunities at hand, enhance our collective offerings, and put Angus on the map as a must-visit destination. Your participation is crucial to our shared success.
Come and join us! See the full agenda and register to attend.

Perthshire Talks Responsible Tourism: welcoming all customers
2024-10-23 09:00 - 16:00 | Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ
This free in-person event will take place on 23 October at Perth Concert Hall, from 9.15am, finishing at 4.00pm.
This event will provide businesses with tips and advice on how to improve customer service for disabled customers, which we know also benefits other customer groups.
This course will include activities, exercises, and discussions. Each participant will receive a guide containing practical tips and a jointly branded VisitScotland / Welcoming All Customers course certificate.
Businesses will learn about:

adopting a positive attitude to all customers and anticipating accessibility requirements
successful communication styles to identify customer needs
legal obligations and types of discrimination

*Please note this training event is available to businesses who attended either of the following webinars:

Perthshire Talks Tourism: unlock the potential of accessible tourism
Perthshire Talks Tourism: access information to promote your business

The registration for the event will go live on 3 October 2024. See https://www.visitscotland.org/news/2024/perthshire-talks-tourism-webinars for booking information.
This event has limited places and will be on a first come, first serve basis. To allow more businesses the opportunity to be trained, only one person from each business can attend.

Tourism Experiences: Online Booking or Bust
2024-10-24 11:00 - 12:30
Join VisitScotland’s new interactive webinar workshop and take a deeper look at online booking systems for visitor attractions, activity providers, and tour companies.
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.
You’ll also hear about how your booking system can serve as the ultimate hub for product information, availability, and bookings.
As part of this session, you’ll be asked to analyse your own business practices and consider what might be improved.
Please note: There are limited places available for this session, and registration will be on a first come, first serve basis.
Due to the format of this session, which is specifically tailored for visitor attractions, activity providers and tour companies, please use the form to submit your interest in attending. It has a series of questions to make sure this session is right for your business.
