VisitScotland Business Events (VSBE) is proud to welcome the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) Board of Trustees for its Fall 2022 Board Meeting and first-ever European Advisory Forum. The visit, from October 1-5, is an exciting opportunity for Scotland to showcase its many incentive attractions and event spaces. The program will be held at the iconic Waldorf Astoria (Caley) hotel in Edinburgh and be produced by the Edinburgh-based DMC K & N Travel Associates.
The IRF funds research and delivers education to advance the science and enhance awareness and appropriate application of non-cash incentives in business and industry. Representing all segments of the incentives, rewards, and recognition industry, the IRF Board of Trustees leads the foundation in meeting its mission of conducting research and providing education highlighting the power of incentive and motivational programs. Their decision to meet in Europe is indicative of overall recovery in the industry as business travelers return to in-person engagements. More importantly, their choice to visit Scotland highlights how prominent a player Scotland has been in the MICE space in recent years.
During the trip, members of the IRF Board of Trustees will lead a focus group of European incentives professionals regarding the trends in incentive travel. While doing this, they will learn more about Scotland’s incentive experiences, with receptions being held at both The Waldorf Astoria and Waldorf Hotels, with a gala dinner on board The Royal Yacht Britannia. There will also be guided a guided tour with Invisible City Tours, an enterprising company that works with individuals experiencing homelessness to offer tours. Board members will sample local cuisine and other traditions that make Scotland a unique meeting destination.
There will also be a wider discussion on the IRF’s development and transition to a global entity. Stephanie Harris, President of IRF, says, “The past two years have of course been difficult, but our research shows that incentive travel has returned and is even more so an integral part of corporations’ employee retention plans. In a recent IRF survey of incentive travel professionals, nearly two-thirds indicated that travel is trending up for 2022 and beyond. With that appetite for travel comes the challenge to address new needs with today’s top meeting destinations. We are pleased to explore the industry beyond North America. VSBE has provided a strong example of crisis response over the past two years, which helped make our decision to choose Scotland an easy one.”
Scotland provides easy international access, a world-class convention centers, and seemingly endless cultural pairings for meetings, incentive travel, and conventions. Under its mantra, “Journey for Change,” Scotland is also the responsible choice by putting sustainability, innovation, human rights, and solutions-oriented thinking at the heart of its event planning.
Richard Knight, Director of Marketing, The Americas at VSBE, shares his enthusiasm regarding IRF’s meeting in Scotland. “This is a real testament to how attractive Scotland is for the MICE industry. As the world emerges from the pandemic, Scotland has positioned itself as the perfect destination. With our world-class venues and offerings, leadership in returning to business events, and our commitment to the journey for change, we continue to prove why incentive planners keep looking to us. We are honored to welcome the IRF Board of Trustees this autumn and I’m excited to see what developments come from it,” he says.
As a destination, Scotland has a plethora of experiences for any business traveler, and the local companies are key to delivering a memorable visit and enhancing business.
“Alongside VSBE, we are thrilled to be the host DMC, managing the entire experience for IRF,” notes Kate Galloway, owner of K&N Travel Associates. “We are leaders in destination management and are keen to pave the way for the incentive travel industry by showcasing to these leaders how we can design and deliver a terrific Scotland experience. DMCs are an integral support to incentive planners’ needs. We are here to work with our industry colleagues, and we thrive on rebuilding this sector of business.”
