Ayrshire castle helps raise region's profile globally

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An Ayrshire castle was among businesses to attend a VisitScotland event aimed at raising the profile of the region on the international stage.

Craufurdland Castle took part in two-day event in London meeting potential new clients from China, East Asia, North America and Australia.The events, which included an evening networking reception at Scotland House, were sponsored by Ian Macleod Distillers and Scotland’s Tay Country and aimed to help the businesses build travel contacts in those markets to help them reach new visitors.Appointment-based workshops, called business development missions (BDMs), allowed businesses to meet representatives from destination management companies and tour operators whose job it is to create travel packages and experiences for leisure clients.According to visitor research, 67 per cent of long-haul visitors to Scotland use a travel intermediary to book accommodation while 63 per cent book their activities and experiences in advance of their trip.Organised by the national tourism organisation, the events are part of VisitScotland’s low-cost business development programme, helping businesses engage with destination management companies, and tour operators, at in-person events, without having to travel internationally.Denise Hill, Head of Business Development and Intermediary Marketing at VisitScotland, said: “These events are a key part of our international support for Scottish tourism businesses, helping them to develop trade-ready bookable products and experiences, and connecting them with international travel trade operators, without the need to travel to trade events overseas.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football