Ayrshire and Arran Tourism Conference: Live On Location

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 Ltd

For further information on the conference please click here to check out the VisitScotland website.