Press release -
Tourism STARS
A new pilot initiative to appoint Edinburgh’s brightest students as international tourism ambassadors will be launched at Edinburgh Airport today (Monday 1st June).
The partnership project between Queen Margaret University (QMU) and Edinburgh Airport will see some of QMU’s BA (Hons) Events Management students become the first Student Tourism Ambassador Role Scotland (STARS) team at Edinburgh Airport this summer.
The STARS programme has been designed to provide new employment and training opportunities for young people.
QMU students - Lauren Osborne, Katie Logan and Rebecca Neish, will serve as the first STARS welcome team and commercial advisers for international passengers arriving at Edinburgh Airport during its busiest time of year. A number of new flights will land in Edinburgh from the US, Canada and the Middle East, as well as many other international destinations this summer.
Lauren Osborne will act as a team supervisor, whilst Katie and Rebecca will become the new STARS, welcoming tens of thousands of international passengers to Edinburgh Airport from 1st June until 31st August.
The new STARS team has been put through its paces as part of a rigorous selection process led by QMU’s Careers and Employability team, as well as intensive customer service training provided by Edinburgh Airport. The talented team also brings previous tourism experience, having volunteered at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
QMU has commissioned kilt maker, Kinloch Anderson, to produce two QMU tartan waistcoats for the STARS to wear in their new roles.
Commenting on the launch of the STARS programme, Professor Joe Goldblatt, Executive Director at the International Centre for the Study of Planned Events at QMU, said:
“QMU is delighted to be working in partnership with Edinburgh Airport to help welcome our international visitors and deliver new employment opportunities for young people in Edinburgh’s tourism sector.
“The STARS programme will provide a positive first impression and enthusiastic welcome for international visitors arriving in Edinburgh this summer and will also provide a unique paid work experience for some of our most talented students.”
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “This is the first time we’ve introduced an initiative like this at Edinburgh Airport and I’m delighted we’re working with Queen Margaret University to help give students a head start into employment.
“We’re passionate about giving all our passengers a great welcome. Our new STARS team will be the perfect friendly faces to provide help and advice to the hundreds of thousands of international travellers we’re expecting this summer.”
The STARS programme has also been endorsed by VisitScotland, Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said:
“This is proof that it’s never too early to get started in tourism! It is the lifeblood of the Scottish economy and this exciting initiative will give young people eager to work in the industry an early taste of what it’s all about.
“People in Scotland are famed for the warmth of their welcome and I’m sure those taking part in this programme will prove themselves to be tourism stars of the future.”
Organisers hope that the STARS programme will be rolled out to other universities and colleges across Scotland in 2016, and possibly expanded to other airports and rail stations.
Ends
For further media information please contact Jonathan Perkins, Press and PR Officer, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, tel: 0131 474 0000, Email: jperkins@qmu.ac.uk
The STARS programme is a joint initiative of the International Centre for the Study of Planned Events at QMU and the QMU Careers & Employability Centre.
The International Centre for the Study of Planned Events at QMU
The International Centre for the Study of Planned Events provides consultancy and research for event management organisations.
QMU Careers & Employability Centre
The QMU Careers & Employability Centre is responsible for connecting QMU’s 6000 students with work opportunities through internships and work placements, as well as part and full time employment.
Edinburgh International Airport
Edinburgh International Airport has experienced significant international passenger growth of 6.5 per cent in the past twelve months.
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/tastescotland
