100,000 Welcomes: Recent Episodes
VisitScotland
Making our business more sustainable shouldn’t be a huge challenge. Patrick Lamont meets Richard Bellingham, Director at the Institute for Future Cities at the University of Strathclyde to discuss what changes organisations and venues across the business events sector can make to start their sustainability journey.
Neil Brownlee sits down with CEO of VisitScotland, Malcolm Roughead OBE and CEO of PCMA, Sherrif Karamat to discuss the future of travel for the events industry and its compatibility with the changes needed to reduce carbon emissions.
Patrick Lamont speaks with John MacKenzie from the Roslin Innovation Centre and Professor George Crooks OBE to discuss how events instigate and promote innovation, and to learn how two of Scotland’s leading Innovation Centres are approaching COP26 and the areas in which they will look to change and adapt.
Whilst we have made some fantastic advancements in gender equality, diversity and inclusion, the industry needs to do more. Rory Archibald sits down with Amy Calvert, CEO of the Events Industry Council, Meredith Rollins, Chief Community Officer of PCMA and Derrick Johnson, Chief Diversity Officer & Director of Event Strategy, Talley Management Group, to discuss what their respective associations are doing to achieve gender equality and inclusion and what they think the events sector needs to do to become more inclusive.
Fiona MacKinnon sits down with Andrea Nicholas, CEO of Green Tourism to discuss where Scotland is innovating across the scope of sustainability and delivering the practical solutions needed to adapt to climate impacts and address loss and damage.
What can organisers and event planners do to make their events and incentives greener and support the local community? Fiona MacKinnon meets with Dear Green Coffee and Revive to discuss how incentives can be an opportunity to give back to the environment.
Patrick Lamont meets Campbell Arnott, International Business Development Manager at Glasgow Convention Bureau and Jessica McClure, CPD Operations Officer, Law Society of Scotland to discuss how business events can bring change and empowerment to people and groups that aren’t typically involved in the sector, and to explore the perspective of youth through the experience of young people entering the Business Events industry.
Fiona MacKinnon is joined by Jonathan Heastie, Exhibition Director at RX Global to discuss the role of business events in transforming to a renewable energy society and the benefits for organisers of hosting environmental events in Scotland.
Venues and organisations have invested heavily into sustainable practices but what is the true cost? Rory Archibald sits down with Sven Bossu, CEO of International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC), to discuss implementing sustainable practices for a better future for our industry.
In this episode Rory Archibald sits down with representatives from three of Scotland’s largest venues to reflect on the past 18 months and to discuss recovery and the future of events.
Rory Archibald sits down with representatives from Glasgow Convention Bureau, Dundee & Angus Convention Bureau and Aberdeen Convention & Events Bureau to reflect on the past 18 months and the plans they devised to rebuild confidence with event organisers.
Meetings and events are back! Gillian Docherty MBE, CEO of the DataLab Scotland and Patrick Lamont from VisitScotland Business Events discuss the importance of events and the increased demand for face-to-face meetings after a year of trying to do it digitally.
Amanda Ferguson of Edinburgh First at the University of Edinburgh, and Gordon Hodge from the University of Strathclyde discuss how the universities engage with business events ambassadors, the role of educational institutes in a post-pandemic world and the renewed appreciation of knowledge sharing and upskilling.
Neil Brownlee meets with Ben Goedegebuure from Maritz Global Events to discuss the values of the organisation and explore how the corporate and incentive sector can become more sustainable and what the market can do to change policies.
Our international association partners sit down with Rory Archibald to discuss how associations can pave the way for change. We explore their organisation’s core values, how associations organise events to ensure they are ‘sustainable’ and what the global industry can do to support further change.
Welcome to our podcast, COP26 and the Journey to Change, a podcast brought to you by VisitScotland’s Business Events team.
In the first episode of our new podcast series, Neil and Rory from the VisitScotland Business Events team discuss the Journey to Change campaign, its alignment to COP26’s presidency schedule and how business events can be a driver for change.
In Doric: Far div ye bide?
In English: Where do you live?
Looking to answer this in Doric? You’re either a ‘toonser’ (live in a city) or a ‘teuchter’ (live in a rural area)!
In Doric: Like snaa aff a dyke.
In English: Like snow off a wall.
In the northeast, things like good butteries (a tasty, flaky, savoury bread roll) don’t ‘sell out quickly’; they go ‘like snaa aff a dyke!’
In Doric: Ye’re a sicht fer sair een.
In English: You’re a sight for sore eyes.
Freshly caught fish, a cold pint of craft beer, a world-famous Aberdeen Angus steak and delicious Cullen Skink are just some of the delights you’ll find in the northeast larder that will make you utter this phrase!
In Doric: It’s aye caul in Aiberdeenshire in November, myne an hap up!
In English: It’s always cold in Aberdeenshire in November, remember to wrap up!
As Scottish comedian Billy Connolly famously said, there’s no such thing as bad weather; just the wrong clothes!
In Doric: If yer bradie’s ower het, ye’ll hae tae blaa it.
In English: If your bridie/pie is too hot, you’ll have to blow on it.
A warning heard in pastry shops throughout the northeast!
In Doric: I’m pechin.
In English: I’m out of breath.
A walk along the spectacular Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail will leave you breathless in more ways than one!
In Doric: Foo’re ye deein?
In English: How are you doing?
Doric speakers are a friendly bunch; expect to hear this a lot on your travels around the northeast!
In Doric: Fit a loon!
In English: What a man/boy!
In the northeast, there are no ‘boys’ and ‘girls;’ there are ‘loons’ and ‘quines.’
In Doric: Dinna fash yersel.
In English: Don’t trouble yourself.
Just to keep you on your linguistic toes, ‘fash’ can also mean ‘fish’ in Doric!.
In Doric: Cam ower an gie’s a bosie.
In English: Come over and give me a cuddle.
If in doubt, a big bosie can solve most problems.
In Doric: Fit they deein doon the herbour wi aa thon crans an larries?
In English: What are they doing down at the harbour with all those cranes and lorries?
In the northeast, the harbour is the heart of many coastal towns and villages.
In our last episode of the series, Grant is joined by Gerry Durkin from the Summerlee Museum of Industrial Life. Based in Lanarkshire, the museum commemorates Scotland’s industrial and social history, with a particular focus on the mining industry and its role in shaping the people and places of Scotland. With some surprising stories, including the history behind unique tattoos and sandwich eating techniques, and an insight into the history and hardships of Scotland's mining families, this final episode doesn't disappoint!
Joining Grant in this episode, the penultimate of the series, is Lara Thomason. Lara has lived on Shetland all her life, and now takes great pride in taking tourists around the beautiful and rugged islands. With a diverse range of things to see and learn about, from the amazing wildlife, to the wild nights of the Up Helly Aa Viking fire festival, Lara shares with us the very best of Shetland’s tour guide tales.
In this episode Grant speaks to Cormac Grogan, Manager of Skaill House on Orkney. Homely, historic and haunted, this mansion houses a treasure trove of stories and artefacts that have been passed down through 12 generations of the same family for over 400 years. Skaill House and its idyllic location is certainly unique with the site of Skara Brae right on its doorstep. In this podcast we hear all about how this ancient Neolithic site was discovered, as well as the House's many global connections, with stories behind an incredible variety of objects from a WW1 Bolshevik Russian flag and Captain Cook's dinner set!
This week Grant speaks to tour guide Magaidh Smith from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. WIth six generations of her family calling the Hebrides home, her unrivalled knowledge of the rich cultural history, traditions and communities of the Outer Hebrides makes for a fascinating listen. From Moon Gods and stone circles, to Neolithic history, clan battles and the Gaelic language - discover a wealth of incredible stories.
Scotland is rich with history. History that goes back a very long way. In this episode, we’ll be going back 6000 years with Alan Steele, tour guide at Kilmartin Glen – a site of great archaeological importance in the West of Scotland. We’ll discuss the prehistoric civilisations that once lived there and what remains of them today. There’s a lot to discuss as Kilmartin Glen has over 800 points of interest within an area of just 6 miles. So let’s head back in time with presenter Grant Stott as we hear some more incredible Tour Guide Tales from Kilmartin Glen.
Want to know more about the gory and ghostly past of Edinburgh? In this edition of Tour Guide Tales, Grant speaks to Tania Dron, just one of the tour guides for Mercat Tours in Scotland’s capital. From jealousy-fuelled murder and dismembered ghosts, to witch trials and cheating death at the gallows, you’ll never feel the same when walking through Edinburgh’s streets again.
Please be aware that this episode will occasionally feature more macabre themes of torture and death and listener discretion is advised.
This week, Grant speaks to Stuart Rich of the Scottish Maritime Museum. With two sites at Irvine and Dumbarton, the Scottish Maritime Museum helps preserve the rich story of a cornerstone of Scotland’s industrial past, it’s maritime and ship building history. We’ll hear what life was like for families working in the often-unforgiving shipyards, the impact of the industry to 20th century Scotland, and some amazing stories behind just some of the boats in the Museum’s care.
In this episode, Grant speaks to Mo Tracey from Blair Castle. From royal kidnappings and Queen Victoria's private army to Scotland's final siege, we hear all about how this fairytale castle has been a fascinating place of interest over the last eight hundred years, and why its history is such a draw for people from all over the world - including some rather famous names.
In our second edition of Tour Guide Tales, we hear the tale of the Guardian of Scotland, Sir William Wallace. Speaking to Ken Thomson of the National Wallace Monument, Grant finds out the story behind one of Scotland’s most iconic attractions, as well as the national heroes, both old and new, it seeks to commemorate.
Ever wanted to know the real history behind Outlander's iconic filming locations? In our first episode of Tour Guide Tales, Grant speaks to Emma Chalmers and Anne Daly from Mary's Meanders. Their tour takes fans of the hit TV show, Outlander to some of the show's most famous places. Tune in to hear about the real Scottish history of these incredible sites, and the amazing stories connected to them.
Let's delve into the glorious region of Dumfries & Galloway. Neil chats to Duncan, the owner of adventure playground Laggan Outdoor and Elizabeth Tindall, a dark skies expert who shares stargazing secrets from the Galloway Forest Park. And, have you ever experienced the joy of foraging for your dinner?
In this episode we explore Scotland's role in the world of film and television. Neil goes to famous Scottish film locations, including Bo'Ness and Doune Castle. He is joined by film producer, Gillian Berrie, who talks about the filming of Outlaw King, and we catch up with VisitScotland's resident film expert, Jenni Steele.
We head to Glasgow to find out more about the foodie haven that is the area of Finnieston. Neil chats to various chefs and industry influencers about the rejuvenation of Scottish seafood, as well as whisky, street food and vegetarian and vegan delights.
This episodes explores Scotland's amazing cultural scene from Aberdeen. As well as dabbling into the worlds of crime fiction and street art, we meet Christine Rew who tells us more about the opening of the new Aberdeen Art Gallery. Also, if you've never heard 'neo trad' music, now is your chance!
This episode comes to you from the beautiful mountains, valleys and glens of the Cairngorms National Park. Neil is joined by Vicky Coy, a geologist who explains the formation of this amazing landscape. We also meet photographer, David Russell, who teaches us why this area is such a joy for wildlife photography.
We've been out and about exploring the length and breadth of the country, stopping to have a chat with people who inspire us from around Scotland. Our host Neil Robertson, from Travels with A Kilt, delves into the untold stories of Scotland in our very first Scotland travel podcast.
100,000 Welcomes!