23-25 NOVEMBER

Buyer FAQs

If your question cannot be answered by this FAQ document, please contact your Market Manager who will be happy to help. 


Event Registration 

When does the event take place?

Scotland Reconnect 2020 will take place on November 23, 24 and 25.

Monday, November 23 from 14:00-21:00 GMT

Tuesday, November 24 from 09:30-16:30 GMT

Wednesday, November 25 from 09:30-16:30 GMT

Above timings have been set to accommodate audiences from across the globe. We would like to encourage our UK and European Buyers to schedule appointments out with the first and last hour of the event days in order to enable our long-haul Buyers in different time zones to meet with Exhibitors at those off-peak times.

Who can take part in this event?

Scottish tourism businesses who had registered to exhibit at VisitScotland Expo 2020 in Aberdeen. Spaces will be limited.

All Buyers are subject to approval. Criteria for Buyer attendance is that you are a contractor or product developer.

What if I don’t qualify to attend the event?

You can schedule 1:1 online meetings with our respective Market Managers to discuss your needs.

How much does it cost to take part in the event?

There is no registration fee.

How do I register? 

Buyer registration to attend Scotland Reconnect closed on Monday, November 23, 11:00 GMT.

We continue to monitor the global situation of travel and event restrictions, and while we do, we are continuing to plan for either a live or a virtual VisitScotland Expo in 2021.  The dates scheduled for this are 28-29 April 2021.  We hope to announce our plans no later than January 2021.


Event Days & Appointment Schedules 

My event registration was approved. What do I do next?

Log back into the virtual platform with your username and password and update your business profile. This is visible to all event attendees. 

Your meeting diary is ready for you to request 1:1 appointments with Exhibitors.

How do I make an appointment? 

Both Buyers and Exhibitors can request appointments. You will have received an e-mail informing you that your meeting diary is open. 

To arrange your meetings, use this link to access your appointment diary. 

You can search for Exhibitors by using the Search Attendees tab and request a meeting from there. A blue i icon will show you the Exhibitors’ profiles. You are also able to Block certain times you are unavailable when going back to your diary. All meeting times are displayed in GMT.

Once you have requested a meeting, the Exhibitor will receive an e-mail in which he is prompted to accept or reject. The Exhibitor will also be able to propose a different time if the one suggested does not suit. If an Exhibitor rejects your meeting proposal, there will be opportunities for ad-hoc meeting requests throughout the event.

Exhibitors can also request a meeting with you. In that case, you will receive an e-mail in which you are prompted to accept or reject. You will also be able to propose a different time if the one suggested does not suit.

How many appointment diaries are there?

There is one appointment diary per Buyer

How long is an appointment?

Every appointment is scheduled to last 15 minutes. After every three appointments there is time for a break. The full event programme will be uploaded to the website soon. 

How many appointments should I make? 

On average we suggest you make 12-14 appointments per day.We will be moderating appointments made to ensure you are getting most out of the opportunity.

Can businesses show videos in their appointments?

Yes, although it might be better to share a link to video materials as part of a follow-up e-mail with the Exhibitor. Focusing on a personal 1:1 conversation with the Exhibitor will allow you to find out more about what the Exhibitor can offer to your clients and answer any questions you may have.

Can Buyers meet with other Buyers? 

Yes, however we recommend that Buyers use this time to meet with the Exhibitors and catch up with Buyers at networking sessions or schedule an ad hoc meeting in the breaks.To do this, Buyers can request an appointment with another business as per usual through the system.

Can I meet someone from a market team?

Yes, Buyers can drop in and speak to a Market Manger if need be. We recommend Buyers use their time to meet with Exhibitors. Our market team will be in contact with each of you after the event to help with follow up.

What additional content will be available as part of this event?

You will be able to access presentations on global travel trends, responsible travel and market updates including some round table discussions. 

How do I access the additional content?

The additional content will be available via the OnAIR portal once this launches for the event from 23 November. 

I missed a live presentation, can I catch up later?

Yes, we will be providing access to recordings. 



Technical

Will there be training on the virtual system?

If you can’t find the answer to your question in this FAQ, please contact your Market Manager and they will arrange a time to clarify any system-related questions you may have .

What if a business has technical issues or other problems during the event?

A helpdesk will be staffed at all times by a VisitScotland representative who can help.  Simply click on the Live Chat button in the event portal and you can chat with them instantly. 


Top Tips - How to make the most of Scotland Reconnect 2020 

  • Stock up with tea/coffee/water for the appointments - as with all travel trade events, we know there will be a lot of talking.
  • Ensure there is no background noise when meeting with Exhibitors.
  • The appointments are business meetings so prepare thoroughly and dress accordingly.
  • Branded pop up stands/props can be placed behind you if you want to help support recognition of your own brand when meeting Exhibitors.
  • Use the first couple of minutes of your appointment as your introduction, and start summarising at the end, giving yourself 3-4 minutes before the 15-minute cut off.
  • Let our Market Managers help you with suggestions for Exhibitor meetings, especially if you are new to Scotland product development, or adapting your offering due to global challenges, for example if you are planning on moving from group bookings to FIT.