Caledonia Park sponsorship announced for fourth South of Scotland Destination Alliance Annual Conference, which will feature speakers from Fáilte Ireland and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, as well as beloved TV presenter Timmy Mallett
Tickets are selling fast for the South of Scotland Destination Alliance’s (SSDA) fourth annual conference, a cornerstone event for tourism professionals and local business leaders looking to drive forward the region’s sustainable tourism strategy.
Taking place on 19 March at The Peebles Hydro in the Scottish Borders supported by headline sponsor Caledonia Park Designer Outlet, the annual gathering is set to have a packed programme of inspiring speakers, stimulating breakout sessions and unmissable networking opportunities.
This year’s impressive speaker line-up features beloved TV personality, artist, and adventurer Timmy Mallett, who will entertain guests with tales of his adventures through the South of Scotland, highlighting the importance of storytelling and connecting with communities to deliver an authentic and unique experience to each visitor.
Manager of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands at Fáilte Ireland, Gráinne Cornally
Manager of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands at Fáilte Ireland, Gráinne Cornally, will also share invaluable lessons on destination branding and sustainable visitor growth, drawn from her experience developing tourism strategy for an often-overlooked part of Ireland.
Global Head of Private Client Relationship Management for The Macallan and founder of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Stuart Cassells, will explore strategies for inspiring quality, leveraging the north American market and enhancing visitor experiences.
Stuart Cassells is the Global Head of Private Client Relationship Management for The Macallan and founder of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
Fi McClelland, Business & Operations Manager at the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory, and Keith Muir, Chair of the South of Scotland Dark Sky Network, will explore the incredible potential of dark sky tourism, showcasing how businesses can leverage Scotland’s unique stargazing experiences to attract visitors and extend the season.
Fi McClelland, Business & Operations Manager at the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory
Other key speakers will include Rich Rowe, Project Manager of Go Tweed Valley; Jason Simpson, CEO of Raw Charging; Stuart Cordner, Managing Director of Cruise Loch Lomond; historian and author John Sadler; Managing Director of Loch Ness Hub & Travel, Russell Fraser; Director of Brand at Visit Scotland, Cat Leaver and more.
Stuart Cordner, Managing Director of Cruise Loch Lomond
Reponsible Tourism Strategy
Following the unveiling of the South of Scotland Responsible Tourism Strategy 2025-2035 at last year’s conference, this year the focus will remain on the four pillars of the South of Scotland Responsible Tourism Strategy, with four main sessions: Inspire visitors to come to the South of Scotland, Develop the visitor experience, Act responsibly, and Support business to succeed.
The ten-year plan was developed jointly by South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA), South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), Scottish Borders Council, Dumfries & Galloway Council and VisitScotland with input from dozens of regional tourism and hospitality businesses and local and national stakeholders.
The conference will revolve around the four main strands of the strategy with the aim of sharing experience, learning and inspiring new local collaborations between businesses. The Responsible Tourism Strategy will underpin all agency work in the South of Scotland over the next decade.
For more information visit: https://www.ssdalliance.com/conf25/
Must-attend event
David Hope-Jones, Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, said: “With its stellar line-up of speakers and activities, our fourth annual gathering promises to be a must-attend event, both for our members and for anyone else eager to get the latest insights into the current challenges and opportunities surrounding the tourism industry in the South of Scotland.
“The South of Scotland is going from strength to strength – with STEAM data last year revealing that the region grew its visitor economy by 20% last year and increased visitor numbers by 26% to over 5 million, it is clear the incredible potential of ambitious collaboration.
“Businesses will have the chance to inform our strategy as well as take advantage of the fantastic breakout sessions, panels and networking opportunities throughout the day. Make sure to book your tickets now – together we are shaping the next decade of sustainable growth in the South of Scotland!”
David Hope-Jones, OBE, CEO SSDA
Russel Griggs OBE, SOSE Chair, said: “The SSDA Conference is a great opportunity for local businesses to connect, network, learn and collaborate with each other, and help further improve our tourism and hospitality sector, which contributes so much to our region.
“I would encourage any local tourism and hospitality businesses to sign up for the Conference and be inspired by the wide variety of speakers taking part in the event.”
Professor Russel Griggs, OBE; Chair SOSE
Collaborative efforts
Caledonia Park Designer Outlet Centre Director Scott Wells said: “We are proud to sponsor the South of Scotland Destination Alliance’s annual conference this year. At Caledonia Park, we recognise the importance of collaborative efforts in promoting tourism and enhancing the visitor experience across the South of Scotland. This conference provides an excellent platform for industry leaders to share insights, discuss challenges, and develop strategies that will benefit our entire region. As a key destination in the area, we are committed to supporting initiatives that showcase the diverse attractions and rich experiences our beautiful part of Scotland has to offer. We look forward to engaging with fellow tourism professionals and contributing to the growth and sustainability of our local tourism industry.”
