Press release -
Temporary relocation of VisitScotland Information Centre
Aberdeen’s VisitScotland Information Centre is to temporarily relocate to the city’s renowned Marischal College, to allow improvements to be made the current Union Street venue, making it bigger and better than before.
Rapid developments in technology mean visitors are now using a range of channels to access information about Aberdeen and Scotland. In line with this trend, VisitScotland is refurbishing, rebranding and upgrading the facilities within its Information Centre in Aberdeen’s Union Street. This is expected to increase the impact that the Centre has on encouraging locals and visitors alike to spend more time in Aberdeen City and Shire, experiencing more of what the area has to offer.
In advance of the busy summer tourist season, the refurbished Information Centre, in the heart of Aberdeen, will further inspire visitors with new branding, increased information provision, digital technology and free Wi-Fi for customers.
Whilst the refurbishment takes place, VisitScotland, working in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, has temporarily relocated the visitor information provision to a site 260 metres away - at Marischal College, Broad Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1AB. Posters will be displayed at the current Information Centre, informing visitors about the work and directing people towards the College.
The temporary arrangement will begin on Wednesday 4 February, with the Information Centre moving into the college pre-season, to allow minimal impact on visitors.
Opening hours will be unaffected as Aberdeen City Council has arranged for VisitScotland staff to have access to the college for Saturday openings. The Centre will be open from 9-5.30pm Monday to Friday and 9.30-5pm on Saturdays.
In its temporary location, the centre will offer information only but it is hoped to re-open the refurbished Information Centre in Union Street for Easter.
Philip Smith, VisitScotland Regional Director said:
“I am delighted that Aberdeen’s VisitScotland Information Centre is undergoing such an extensive refurbishment. This will allow us to further inspire, inform and assist visitors to the area by providing free Wi-Fi, alongside the provision of modern tools to display content. We hope to increase the impact the Centre has on encouraging locals and visitors alike to spend more time in Aberdeen City and Shire, and to experience more of what the area has to offer.
“This investment in our Information Centre is testament to the importance it plays in helping all visitors to get the most out of their stay in the region.
“In the current economic climate, it’s more important than ever that we take a collaborative approach to promoting tourism and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Aberdeen City Council to continue to offer high quality information services to visitors to the city during the refurbishment of our premises on Union Street.”
Councillor Marie Boulton, Deputy Leader of Aberdeen City Council, said:
"We are delighted to be able to offer VisitScotland a temporary base while refurbishment work proceeds on the Union Street Information Centre. Marischal College will provide the perfect setting for the facility and will offer the ideal showcase for Aberdeen and the North-east."
VisitScotland will continue to provide information and inspiration to visitors both pre and on arrival, showcasing the very best the area has to offer through multiple channels, including the global platform www.visitscotland.com which is visited by over 13 million people a year. Furthermore, VisitScotland is supporting the local tourism industry by offering Quality Assured businesses free digital reviews, helping them promote their business online.
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
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.
- According to a recent Deloitte study, the tourism economy supports 270,000 jobs in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the tourism economy 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
Year of Food and Drink 2015
- 2015 is the Year of Food and Drink, a celebration of Scotland’s natural larder and the role that food and drink plays in shaping our economic success.
- Scotland generates over £2.5m per day through food and drink tourism.
- A series of themed months will create an appetite for key areas of Scotland’s food and drink industries – from seafood and whisky to berries and high-quality meat
- For more information, visit www.visitscotland.com/foodanddrink
