Aberdeen Ambassador Network celebrates multi-million-pound year

​VisitAberdeenshire recognised the achievements of academics and business leaders who added over £2.5m to the local economy by hosting 15 conferences in Aberdeen in 2017 at last night’s (April 25) Aberdeen Ambassador Network awards ceremony.

The network is designed to encourage and support professionals and academics to bring high-profile conferences to the region. It works in partnership with Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University and the James Hutton Institute. The event was hosted by broadcaster Kirstin Gove.

Graeme Mackay, ambassador programme executive of VisitAberdeenshire said, “2017 has been one of the strongest year’s yet for the Aberdeen Ambassador Network which is fantastic. We have worked with a variety of conference organisers from many different industries which demonstrates the strength of our ambassador programme and our conference facilities in Aberdeen, but we still have the capacity to grow the network further, and this can only be achieved through engaging with our local academics and business leaders.

“There is an association for nearly everything, and we’re fortunate to have distinguished universities that specialise in medical science and research here on our doorstep, while our buoyant business sector has an array of thought-leaders which range from chartered accountants and engineers to haulage and farming. These are all industries which we have a strong representative in, and we should, as a region, be doing more to highlight our UK and global contribution to these individual industries by hosting conferences here in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.”

Laurie Scott, head of the Aberdeen Convention Bureau at VisitAberdeenshire said, “The work the Ambassador Network is delivering is important to the local economy as business visitors are among the highest spenders of any type of visitor, and through hosting these events we can attract large groups of delegates to the region. The ongoing regional developments will further strengthen our appeal to attract more of these conferences and visitors, including Aberdeen City Council’s investment in the new AECC which will offer a step-up in experience for event organisers and delegates alike. Our work at VisitAberdeenshire’s Ambassador Network and Aberdeen Convention Bureau will act as a catalyst for co-ordinating local stakeholders to get behind bids for new events, and to welcoming delegates to the city once the business is secured.”

Aberdeen Ambassador Network 2017 winners

The Aberdeen Ambassador Network is a partnership between VisitAberdeenshire, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University and the James Hutton Institute. VisitAberdeenshire works to develop the visitor economy through initiatives that help tourism businesses to understand and meet demand from an ever-changing market to strengthen the region’s position as a world-class tourism destination. It supports bids for major business events and works with partners across the region to deliver a great delegate welcome. VisitAberdeenshire is funded by Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Scottish Enterprise and Opportunity North East. For more information, visit www.visitabdn.com/AAN