host
Chris Taylor
Destination Development Director - Highlands & Islands, VisitScotland
Before joining VisitScotland, Chris worked at Highlands & Islands Enterprise, leading their tourism and food & drink teams and prior to that, at the Cairngorms National Park Authority. He is passionate about tourism in Scotland and is always keen to find new ways to support the tourism industry. He lives on the Black Isle, just north of Inverness, and enjoys spending as much time as possible in the outdoors, exploring Scotland.
speakers
Jamie Brogan
Jamie is the Head of Climate Partnerships at the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute in the University of Edinburgh. He spent over 20 years providing both strategic and practical advice to small and growing businesses and has brought that experience and approach to the huge and complex problem of tackling climate change. He is one of UK leads for the place-based climate action network, which is putting in place innovative approaches to help accelerate and support local climate action. He is also hugely passionate about the economy and environment of the Highlands and Islands, having walked and cycled the length and breadth of them in ‘completing’ all the Munros and Corbetts!
Jamie is a board member of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Edinburgh Climate Commission, and a Director of Scotland's new Climate Intelligence Service, which is supporting all of Scotland’s local authorities and Scottish Government to deliver the 2045 net zero target set out in the national Climate Change Plan.
Cat Leaver
Head of Brand and Global Marketing, VisitScotland
A strategic and innovative leader with extensive experience across brand, marketing and stakeholder management in both agency and client-side environments. Ambassador and Non-Executive Board experienced. A track record of designing and implementing world-class marketing with measurable impact.
Irene Roberts
Director of Market Management - UK and Ireland at Expedia, Inc.
Irene Roberts is responsible for leading the team of local experts developing relationships with our hotel partners in the UK & Ireland for Expedia Group. With over 20 years’ experience of working in the tourism and travel industry, Irene is an expert at working across multiple markets to ensure we are driving the best results through the continued roll out of new technology and tools to our existing hotel partners. Starting her Expedia career in 2007 as a market manager for Scotland, Irene was promoted to area market manager for the UK, followed by UK & Ireland, and then to director for London. Prior to Expedia, Irene worked at TUI Travel in both product and commercial roles. She holds a Master’s degree in Geography from the University of Aberdeen.
workshop speakers
Accessing the Inclusive Tourism Market
Marina DiDica
Inclusive Tourism Manager
VisitScotland
An introduction to travel distribution - Reach new markets & get more high spend visitors across the year
Patrick O'Shaughnessy
Industry Development Manager VisitScotland
Rona Wallace
Senior Manager
Business Growth & Development
VisitScotland
Facilitated Networking
Jamie Brogan
Head of Climate Partnerships
Edinburgh Climate Change Institute
afternoon speakers
Highlands and Islands Thistle Awards
The afternoon session will allow you to join us for a showcase of Highland businesses, who have all been successful in their categories at the Highland and Island Thistle Awards 2023, to share their stories of tourism as a force for good. Hear their inspiring, innovative and first hand experiences of the positive impact of tourism, how it's impacted and sustained their business and communities - and how it can benefit your business too.
Duisdale House Hotel
Gairloch & Loch Ewe Action Forum
Stories of Scotland Podcast