It
was announced today that Aberdeen City and Shire will host Routes
Europe 2015. The announcement, which took place during a press
conference at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC),
where the event will be held from 12-14 April 2015, was attended by
Cllr Barney Crockett, Leader of the Council, Aberdeen City Council;
Dawn Schultz, City Promotions Manager Economic & Business
Development, Aberdeen City Council; Cllr Peter Argyle- Chair of the
Infrastructure Services Committee Aberdeenshire Council; Brian
Horsburgh, Managing Director, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference
Centre; Maya Rousen, Project Manager, Scottish Enterprise; Martin
Ritchie, Aviation Officer, Transport Scotland; Steve Harris, Chief
Executive, VisitAberdeen; Shona Anderson, Regional Director,
VisitScotland; David Stroud, Executive Vice President of Routes and
Katie Bland, Future Hosts Director for Routes.
Routes
Europe is the region’s largest route development forum and enables
the aviation industry’s decision makers from across Europe to
examine air services, discuss new market opportunities and
developments and get up to speed on potential new destinations.
The
announcement of Aberdeen as the Host destination for Routes Europe
2015 represents the culmination of a successful bid to host the event
which was initiated by Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ) in which
all of the region’s key stakeholders were involved in supporting
the proposal. These stakeholders include; Aberdeen City Council,
Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels Association,
Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future, AECC, Aberdeen International
Airport, National Trust for Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Travel
Scotland, VisitAberdeen, VisitScotland Business Tourism Unit and
VisitScotland.
Deputy
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The Scottish Government is
working to secure more direct international flights from Scotland and
hosting events such Routes Europe supports this ambition. This event
is a great opportunity to showcase the continuing strength of the
economy of the North-East and the dynamic nature of Aberdeen
International Airport as one of the fastest growing airports in the
UK. It is also an opportunity to showcase what Scotland as a whole
has to offer airline operators, namely an ambitious, forward-looking
country keen to do business with our international neighbours.”
Chairman
of Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee, Peter
Argyle, commented: "Bringing this significant tourism event to
the North-East is an excellent achievement, and another demonstration
that local authorities and their partners are working hard to make
the most of what the area has to offer. It is another chance to
highlight to those in the travel trade and airline industry just what
we have to offer in this area and try to secure even more of the
global tourism market. We hope that one of the outcomes will be
increased flights and routes to and from Aberdeen International
Airport, with one of the major benefits being increased visitors to
the region."
