About VisitScotland Connect
VisitScotland Connect provides a one-stop opportunity to engage with travel trade representatives from domestic and international visitor markets, build business relationships with new and existing contacts and grow your business via intermediary channels.
There are numerous benefits of working with the domestic and international travel trade. These include:
- improving visitor management throughout the year by extending the season and growing business at times you might usually be quiet
- lesser-known attractions and products can be promoted more easily, especially internationally
- contracting business up to 24 months before a visitor arrives in Scotland
- working with distribution partners across multiple visitor markets will broaden your customer base and make you less vulnerable to economic fluctuation
- increasing your visitor reach beyond your own website and marketing budget capacity
- building a regular stream of income from different sources by distributing through online travel agents, tour operators, destination management companies and travel advisors in addition to the direct business you receive
Applications & Eligibility
VisitScotland Connect is open to travel trade-ready Scottish tourism and events businesses with bookable products and experiences. Please note that VisitScotland Connect is only open to pre-approved attendees. Walk-ups on the day are not permitted.
Eligibility:
- a business must be based in Scotland or have a Scottish office. The business must also have staff attending who are experienced in working with UK and international travel trade. Businesses are required to have a listing on our travel trade website. Listings are free and you can request a new listing or update a current one by contacting connect@visitscotland.com
- DMOs and local authorities interested in registering must be represented by knowledgeable staff with experience working with the UK and international travel trade. DMO attendees are expected to have a thorough regional knowledge and be able and prepared to assist buyers developing travel programmes featuring their region.
We anticipate a high level of interest in this event and ask Scottish suppliers to apply early to avoid disappointment.
The attendance fee for suppliers is £2,100 +VAT and includes:
- meeting table and chairs
- strictly up to two supplier passes
- tablecloth
- table signage
- access to one meeting diary to arrange meetings with international and UK buyers
- light lunch, teas and coffees
- one vehicle parking space in the SEC car park
If you are a Destination Management Organisation (DMO), local authority, national partner or Destination Management Company (DMC), you may wish to apply for an enhanced workshop space, which is charged at £3,445 + VAT and includes:
- two meeting tables and chairs
- strictly up to four supplier passes
- tablecloths
- table signage
- access to two meeting diaries to arrange meetings with international and UK buyers
- 3 graphic back panels (creative direction given by VisitScotland, imagery to be supplied by partner)
- light lunch, teas and coffees
- one vehicle parking space in the SEC car park
An event invoice is generated once you have been accepted for a space at the event. Payment is then due within 30 days, but we are open to discussing a different payment schedule with you, should this be required. Payment is generally required in full before your meeting diary is opened.
You can settle event payment by online card payment via your supplier portal or request an invoice to settle via BACS transfer.
If you are a small or micro business that is new to working with travel trade and thinking about attending this event for the first time, you may be eligible for a one-day attendance charged at £995 + VAT. Please find the application on our supplier application page or contact our VisitScotland Connect Team to discuss eligibility.
We also host regional travel distribution workshops and national webinars throughout the year. These are designed to help you refine your travel trade offering and prepare you to attend a trade event such as VisitScotland Connect. Visit our Business Support Hub for more information on upcoming events.
Preparing for the Event
Once you have been approved for a space at VisitScotland Connect, you will be able to access your personal supplier portal. Here you can update your company profile, upload digital collateral such as your product fact sheets for travel trade, add additional staff members, purchase dinner tickets, manage your meetings with buyers and more.
A standard meeting table includes a maximum of two staff members as part of the event attendance fee. An enhanced destination space includes a maximum of four staff members.
The Meeting Diary for VisitScotland Connect will open in February 2027.
A standard meeting table includes one meeting diary. An enhanced destination space includes two meeting diaries.
Access to the meeting diary is only granted if payment of your event registration fee has been settled.
Both buyers and Scottish suppliers can request meetings via their event portals. Instructions on how to request and accept meetings with buyers are made available via the supplier portal. It is recommended to attend the event with a full diary of pre-scheduled meetings.
In person and online training will be available in early 2027 to help approved suppliers prepare.
Meetings & Networking
This can vary as it depends on how you plan and manage your diary in advance of the event. On average, you could have around 20 meetings a day. We recommend you attend the event with as full a diary as possible and set aside time in the run up to manage your appointments.
Get in touch with the VisitScotland Connect Team if you need support in finding the right contacts when meeting diaries open in February 2027.
A number of unscheduled meeting opportunities are available throughout the event days. During unscheduled meeting time slots, you can meet with buyers on a first come first served basis without prior arrangements. You will not be able to pre-book meetings via your meeting diary. We recommend suppliers remain at their table during these slots.
Scottish suppliers can meet with other suppliers throughout the event days. However, we recommend that suppliers make use of available meeting slots to meet with buyers and catch up with other Scottish-based businesses during comfort and lunch breaks.
There will a variety of partners attending that Scottish suppliers can meet with. Previous industry experts included digital platforms, sustainability partners and trade associations.
Venue Logistics
We are unable to permit pop ups as part of your event attendance. Please refrain from bringing pop ups along as you will be asked to remove them by our events team.
Yes, you are welcome to provide small giveaways but please note if you would like give away alcohol miniatures the SEC have a
standard form that they ask you to complete in order to offer giveaways of alcohol.
Marketing Opportunities
A number of partnership opportunities will be available that can enhance your brand exposure at the event. More information can be found in the sponsorship opportunities tab or contact our VisitScotland Connect Team.
Contact Us
VisitScotland Connect
c/o VisitScotland
Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street
Edinburgh, EH8 8BG