Business leaders and academics who have helped bring in conference business worth more than £11million to the local economy during the last year were awarded by Aberdeen Convention Bureau at its annual Ambassador Awards dinner last week (Wednesday November 25).
The bureau’s Ambassador programme works closely with the academic and corporate communities throughout the area.
Many of those appointed as Conference Ambassadors have a high profile within specialist fields such as oil and gas, health, food research, science and environmental factors.
They work to promote Aberdeen City and Shire as a conference destination by attracting key meetings and exhibitions to the area, focusing attention on the region and encouraging local economic growth.
In return, the scheme allows ambassadors to showcase their research and raise their own profile within their specialism, giving their subject matter a wider audience through Aberdeen Convention Bureau’s support and promotion.
Aberdeen Convention Bureau provides support for the conference bids, including bid proposals, venue location and reservation, financial support, site visits and marketing.
Once a bid has been successful, the Convention Bureau can arrange accommodation for delegates and assist with arranging social events programmes.
Nicolle Siliwoniuk, ambassador programme executive at Aberdeen Convention Bureau, said: “This has been an excellent year for conference wins and we present these awards to recognise and thank those Ambassadors who have helped make it a success by contributing towards business tourism in the area.
“Influential business leaders and academics are regularly invited to join our Ambassador programme. Three quarters of secured association conference bids are won through the efforts of these local Ambassadors, so they are a key element in helping us to attract business and to raise the profile of Aberdeen City and Shire as a top conference destination.”
The prestigious event was hosted by Lord Provost Peter Stephen at the Town House in Aberdeen and around 75 Ambassadors attended.
Certificates and prizes were presented to 14 Ambassadors who confirmed business in 2009/2010:
- Mrs Anne-Marie Begg of Northfield Academy - Caretakers of the Environment International 2009
- Professor Stefan Brink of the University of Aberdeen - Myth and Theory in the Old Norse World - Conference 2009
- Dr Sundari Joseph of the Robert Gordon University - Interprofessional Education Conference - SCOTTISH DIMENSION 2010
- Dr Ben Marsden of the University of Aberdeen - The British Society for the History of Science Annual Conference 2010
- Professor Paul Mitchell of the University of Aberdeen - Energy Overview Conference 2010
- Dr Jeanette Robertson of the RGU School of Life Science - Heads of University Centres for Biomedical Sciences (HUCBMS) 2010
- Dr Neil Emmison of the RGU School of Life Science - Heads of University Centres for Biomedical Sciences (HUCBMS) 2010
- Dr Ian Russell of the University of Aberdeen - The North Atlantic Fiddle Convention NAFCo2010
- Dr Martin Solan of the University of Aberdeen - World Marine Biodiversity Conference 2011
- Mr Joe Watson of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Great Britain and International Federation of Agricultural Journalists - International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress 2014
- Dr Raif Yucel of the University of Aberdeen - Aberdeen Cytometry Meeting 2009
- Ms Linda Duncan of the University of Aberdeen - Aberdeen Cytometry Meeting 2009
- Mrs Barbara Jones, Events Manager at RGU - general award for support
- Mrs Nikki Pearce of the CPD department at the University of Aberdeen - general award for support
Jacky Selway, manager of Aberdeen Convention Bureau, added: “We are on the brink of a very exciting time for the meetings and convention sector in the region. A number of new hotels have opened, such as Malmaison and the new Bauhaus hotel, providing a greater variety of quality accommodation to offer delegates.
“In addition there is a range of new meetings and conference venues in the pipeline, not least of which is the Trump development and the University of Aberdeen’s new library.
"This all means that we are well placed to meet the requirements of conference organisers who are looking to arrange events in the next few years. We will be targeting particularly those sectors where Aberdeen City and Shire is leading the field and the role of the Ambassadors is crucial in championing the attractions of the region and influencing the decision to hold their next big conference here.”
For more information on Aberdeen Convention Bureau and the Ambassador programme, call 01224 288815 or visit www.aberdeenconferences.com