We’re huge advocates of tourism in Scotland and love working with the hospitality industry, providing creative planting across the country. It was fantastic to catch up with valued customers, meet new ones and find out about strategies being implemented for the challenging times ahead for the industry.

With the conference held on the banks of the Clyde in Glasgow’s, Scottish Event Campus, The Scottish Tourism Alliance is the largest member organisation for tourism businesses in Scotland and the leading representative body for the industry.

The conference provided an opportunity to officially launch ‘Scotland Outlook 2030.’ The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon MSP took to the stage to endorse the strategy, which has the vision of Scotland becoming the world leader in 21st century tourism, announcing a £5.5M funding package over the next five years. The huge contribution of the tourism industry to the Scottish economy was celebrated before discussing future strategies and the significant challenges facing the industry…

Burning issues up for discussion included the corona virus, immigration challenges, climate change and sustainable tourism.

The Benholm Group were thrilled to be involved with dressing the stage and common areas, which, filled with lush green plants and bright pops of red. We were also grateful for the opportunity to showcase a selection of out outdoor dining options. With Easter fast approaching, thinking about the best use of valuable outdoor space is top of many hospitality professional’s to do lists.

We were delighted with our stand in the midst of it all. The showcase provided a relaxed setting for delegates to meet suppliers whilst enjoying drinks and nibbles with other attendees. It was great to meet other industry leading suppliers including fellow sponsors DWF Law, Machina, World Food Travel Association and Radisson Red. With many hotels, bars and restaurants already seeing the benefits of bringing the outdoors in, it was a pleasure to chat about it – as well as offering information about transforming outdoor spaces, and how we manage to ‘Scotland proof’ it!

All in all it was another brilliantly organised event by the STA team that enjoyed some great feedback, including our gifts, the Benholm seedboms! Let us know if they bloom and blossom, we’d love it if you kept us posted using the #greenwithenvy.

If outdoor space is on your mind and you’d like to hit the ground running for Easter and beyond, check out our guide to creating successful spaces below