NorthLink Ferries will be flying the flag for Orkney and Shetland at the British Travel Trade Fair in Birmingham on March 11 and 12.

The ferry company will be represented on the VisitScotland stand throughout the two-day exhibition which takes place in Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre.

The BTTF is the premier business-to-business exhibition for British domestic and inbound tourism. It provides opportunities for travel buyers and suppliers to meet and promote the UK as a tourist destination.

NorthLink marketing projects manager Elaine Tulloch said: “We’ll be primarily promoting our 2009 Group Tours programme and firming up bookings for the current season. The level of interest shown has already been high and we are very encouraged with bookings for this year.

The company will also be represented at the VisitScotland Expo 2008 exhibition at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on April 16/17.

Immediately thereafter the company is planning a familiarisation trip for tourism trade professionals attending the Expo.

Shortly after departure from Aberdeen, a reception is planned on board MV Hrossey and participants will have the opportunity to disembark on either Orkney or Shetland when a range of tourist opportunities will be laid on before returning to Hrossey for early Saturday morning arrival in Aberdeen.