Press release -
Promoting Dundee is a piece of cake for Lorraine
Lorraine Kelly was back home in Dundee today (Friday 13 June) to officially open the new VisitScotland Information Centre, during what she called “a real renaissance” for the city.
The television star, who lives in Broughty Ferry, cut a specially made Dundee cake to mark the occasion.
Previously located at Discovery Point, the new VisitScotland Information Centre is a co-location with Dundee City Council at 16 City Square.
It is hoped the new site, near the Overgate Shopping Centre and the Caird Hall, will see an increase in visitor numbers, especially with a number of major tourism and cultural developments taking place in Dundee.
This includes the highly anticipated Waterfront development, the newly opened Malmaison Hotel and the opening of the V&A Museum of Design Dundee in 2017.
Lorraine said: “These are exciting times for Dundee and the city is experiencing a real renaissance. The new V&A museum will transform the waterfront and attract even more tourists to Dundee, where they can enjoy the sunniest city in Scotland as well as attractions like Discovery Point, McManus Gallery, the DCA and some brilliant pubs, restaurants and shopping.
“The new VisitScotland Information Centre in the heart of the city centre is where tourists and locals can find out why Dundee is such a terrific place to visit and I'm delighted to open it today.”
Lorraine was joined at the opening of the Information Centre by VisitScotland Chief Executive Malcolm Roughead, who spoke to delegates from Dundee City Council about the many benefits of the new co-location.
Malcolm Roughead said: “I am delighted that Lorraine Kelly, a true national treasure, is here to open our new VisitScotland Information Centre.
“It is fitting that to mark the new chapter for tourism in Dundee we have a new hub for visitors where they can be informed and inspired, as well as being able to take advantage of the area’s fantastic cultural events at the Box Office thanks to our partnership with Dundee City Council.
“Our new Information Centre is prepared to welcome more visitors than ever before, using the fantastic events of 2014, The Ryder Cup, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and Homecoming as a springboard.”
Will Dawson, Convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee, said: “I am delighted that this new, up-to-the-minute facility has opened in the heart of Dundee city centre.
“We are fast becoming a must-see destination for visitors from Scotland, the UK and beyond and to have such a bright, and accessible point of contact for anyone who needs help and guidance on the many places there are to go and things to do is another feather in our cap.”
Lorraine, who was awarded an OBE in 2012, returned to live in Scotland from London in 2005. She has been known as the face of UK breakfast television since 1993 when she helped to launch GMTV, and now commutes from her home in Broughty Ferry to present her own show Lorraine, which airs every weekday at 8.30am on ITV1. Her connection with Dundee is well known, as is her avid support of Dundee United.
For more information please contact;
Tom Maxwell
Corporate Press Officer
0131 472 2409
Topics
- Entertainment
Categories
- corporate communications
- visitscotland information centres
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors:
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation has three key roles:
- To market Scotland to all parts of the world to attract visitors
- To provide information – and inspiration – to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a visit to Scotland
- To provide quality assurance to visitors and quality advice to the industry and partners to help the industry meet and strive to exceed customer expectations
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- 2014 is the year Scotland welcomes the world, when it hosts the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and more than 800 Homecoming events throughout the country.For more information on Homecoming Scotland 2014, go to www.visitscotland.com
- The VisitScotland Information Centre network is a unique face-to-face channel engaging with around five million visitors and locals each year. Everyone who uses a VisitScotland Information Centre goes on to spend an additional £5.35, generating over £24 million for Scotland’s economy.
- According to a recent Deloitte study, tourism employs 270,000 people in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the industry contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
- For more information on VisitScotland’s annual review please go to www.visitscotland.org/about_us/our_focus/annual_report.aspx
