Search Results

NorthLink Ferries was flying the flag for the Northern Isles at the VisitScotland Expo 2008 event in Aberdeen last week.

The Expo, which is recognised as being Scotland's premier business-to-business holiday showcase, attracted hundreds of tourism professionals and tour operators many of whom were expressing serious interest in what Orkney and Shetland has to offer.

The event, in the Aberdeen conference centre, took place over two days (April 16 and 17) and on the closing day NorthLink hosted 23 members of the UK and overseas travel trade at a reception and familiarisation trip on MV Hrossey.

The tourism professionals were provided with local entertainment and meals of local produce on board as they sailed north bound for guided tours on Orkney and Shetland.

NorthLink Trade and Groups Reservations Manager Steve Nottage said: "The 'fam' trip went very well indeed. The weather was perfect and conditions were just right for touring. We've already received positive feedback and we'll be following up on all contacts this week."

NorthLink marketing projects manager Elaine Tulloch added: "Business was brisk over the two days. Many trade contacts have confirmed their 2008 tours - 250 firm bookings have already been received - and great interest was being shown in our 2009 offering. It was noteworthy, too, that a lot of the interest in bookings for 2009 was being shown by operators from Eastern Europe - Hungary, Poland and so on - so that may well prove to be a burgeoning new market for our holiday offering," she said.