ABSOLUTELY ABERDEEN

January 2007, Volume II, Issue I

News from Aberdeen, Scotland

Welcome to Absolutely Aberdeen, your complete guide to meeting in Aberdeen, Scotland, including all of the great things to do in Aberdeen and the surrounding Scottish countryside. Absolutely Aberdeen is brought to you by the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre (AECC).

With winter quickly coming to an end and spring just around the corner, AECC is very excited for the tremendous success they have had over the last few months and for the several meetings coming to town this spring.

Plans for a new four star hotel connected to the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) have recently been approved at an Aberdeen City Council planning committee meeting. The hotel will feature 200 guestrooms including suite accommodation, a full health club and pool facility, a roof top restaurant and bar with view over the City and the North Sea. The new hotel allows the AECC to service their clients even further.

In this issue, we’ll bring you up to speed with transportation updates; highlight soft adventure activities known to Aberdeen; and we’ll tell you about AECC’s superb meeting services. We’ll also let you know where you can find us next, who’s meeting at AECC, and a few fun facts about Aberdeen and Scottish tradition.

We hope that you enjoy reading this newsletter and find it both inspiring and helpful in planning your next European meeting. Aberdeen is a thriving European capital for international business. With the AECC’s recent multi-million renovation, the Convention Center offers a state-of-the-art meeting space for events of all sizes.

As AECC continues to be recognized for their service and facilities, it’s no wonder more groups are choosing Aberdeen and the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre for their next meeting.

To find out more about bringing your meeting to Aberdeen, contact us at 1-617-536-0590 or at info@openthedoor.biz.

·  Transportation Updates

December was a very exciting time for Aberdeen, as the Aberdeen City Councilors voted in favor of BAA Aberdeen’s proposed nearly 1,000 foot expansion, making arrivals from the US even easier now.

Andy Flower, Aberdeen Airport’s Managing Director, is thrilled with the decision, “We are delighted with today’s outcome. This is a good decision for Aberdeen Airport, the city and region, and we welcome the support of Aberdeen City Council. Today’s decision is a major milestone and means we now have the certainty we need to proceed with our ambitious plans to transform Aberdeen Airport into a truly international gateway.”

The investment has goals to deliver the following:

• $20 million two year international development plan, including runway extension and expanded international arrivals hall
• Roughly 8 million passengers by 2015, and 12 million by 2030
• 4 million passengers by 2030
• Over 1,200 new jobs at the airport

This news tops off an excellent year for Aberdeen Airport, as the airport was the fastest growing airport in the BAA Scotland group, with passenger numbers up 14% to 299,700. In the year to October, the airport also handled 3.1 million passengers, up 10.3%.

·  Focus: Soft Adventure Activities

One of the reasons why Aberdeen is such a fantastic meeting destination is because you’ll never run out of activities for your attendees! From golfing to fishing to horseback riding – Aberdeen has it all to suit every taste. What better way to take in the sights and network with attendees, than with the following soft adventure activities.

Sitting on 3,000 acres of beautiful country side of Aberdeenshire rests Kincardine Estate. Since the castle is available for functions such as receptions, gourmet dinners, and concerts, invite your delegates to gather and experience great teambuilding activities such as salmon fishing, fly fishing, and estate shooting. All activities are attended by an instructor, so all experience levels can participate!

Offering some of the best off road cycling in Britain, Pitfichie, part of Scotland’s Forestry Commission, might be just what your delegates are looking for. The trail begins in Aberdeenshire and winds through over 2600 kilometers of beautiful forest scenery. The forest also offers several cycling experiences, from wide forest roads to narrow single tracks. Also, the forest has a mixture of woodland and open hill – providing additional variance and beauty to the ride.

Scotland’s Forest Commission also offers visitors some fantastic walking trails. Blackhall Forest, also located in Aberdeenshire, is a long thin wooded area that provides the best place for a long leisurely afternoon stroll.

To really experience Aberdeen’s heritage, horseback riding must be on the agenda. Hayfield Riding Club, one of Scotland’s best horse riding facilities and located right in Aberdeen, offers everyone and every level a unique adventure. Whether your attendees want to learn and experience jumping, polo, or western style riding, it’s all possible at Hayfield.

When meeting in Aberdeen, planners find that any one of these activities are sure to foster strong, lasting, working relationships that delegates can take with them and utilize in future endeavors.

·  Destination: Castle Trail

Dive into Scotland’s heritage on the world famous Castle Trail. The trail, which runs directly through Aberdeen, has more castles per acre than any other part of the UK. The area even boasts that you can see a castle at every turn. So read on to learn more about this fantastic trail, which offers several ideas for unique event venues or a perfect tour that gives attendees the true Scotland experience.

Begin at Tolquhon Castle, which was started in the 15th century, during the same time the Preston Tower was built. The Tower was passed unto the Forbes family in 1420 and then William Forbes, the seventh laird, built a large quadrangular mansion.

Continue on to the Haddo House, which boasts a cozy feel with beautiful rose gardens, lawns, and a country park. This beautiful house was built on the grounds of an ancient castle and is filled with history of the Gordon family.

Next on the trail is Fyvie Castle. Filled with 800 years of history, each of the five towers of the fortress represents one of the castle’s five successive families including; Preston, Meldrum, Seton, Gordon, and Forbes-Leith. See each family’s presence at the castle through the different interior touches and medieval stones that make up the beautiful fortress.

Follow the trail to Huntly Castle which stands on the bank of the River Deveron. This castle is a must see, as it is a history lesson in itself. The castle shows the development of the Scottish castle from the earliest Norman fortress to the palace of the 17th century. Defense architecture from the Civil War is still visible and the other features of the castle, including the heraldic doorway and carved fireplaces, are just as striking.

On your journey, stop by Leith Hall, an unusual and beautiful mansion that began a process of construction in 1650. What resulted is a mansion built around a central courtyard and is regarded by many as one of the National Trust for Scotland’s hidden jewels. The mansion is filled with the Leith- Hay family’s history, giving a unique insight into the life and times of the last four centuries for the Leith- Hay’s. While here, also take in the extensive gardens, stables, ponds, countryside trails, picnic area, and tearoom.

The Kildrummy Castle is ruins of a 13th century stone courtyard castle which was dissembled in 1715 after the first Jacobite rising. The site is fascinating because the complete layout of the buildings is still in tact including the hall, kitchen, and chapel. While there, visit the nearby Black Den of Kildrummy which is now converted into a picturesque garden and spanned by the modern replica of the Brig of Balgownie in Aberdeen.

Next stop is Craigievar Castle in Grampian, which is the epitome of the fairy-tale castle. Serving as the model as the best of Scottish baronial architecture, the castle was built in 1626 by William Forbes and holds a great collection of family portraits and 17th and 18th century furniture. This castle is one of the few that remains as it was when lived in by the Forbes-Sempill family.

Saving the best for last, complete the trail at Castle Fraser. This wonderful castle is one of the ‘Castles of Mar’, which dates back to 1575. The castle holds a plethora of historic furnishings, paintings, and fine embroidery. The Great hall is often used for concerts and other events, a perfect place to host a reception at the end of the tour.

If you want to expand the tour, there are additional castles to visit as well including the magnificent Baroque Duff House, Corgarff Castle, Crathes Castle and others such as Dunnottar Castle, where Mel Gibson's Hamlet was filmed.

·  About the AECC: AECC In-House Services

Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre’s tremendous success over the past year is due in part to their outstanding in-house services offered to clients. In addition to their in-house Event, Exhibition, and AV/IT Teams, AECC also has an in house PCO and Catering Team to help solve any meeting planner’s needs.

The in-house Professional Conference Organizing (PCO) team can provide executives with full circle administrative support. The difficulty of coordinating events with unique requests is eliminated with the help of their skilled team that assist planners each step of the way.

Depending on your budget and specific needs, the PCO team can assist in some or all of the following services:

• Project Management
• Scientific Program Organization
• Financial Management
• Marketing, PR and Material Management
• Sponsorship and Commercial Exhibition Management
• Venue Liaison
• Social Event Program Organization and Management
• Abstract/Paper Submission and Processing
• Delegate Management

Once the logistics of your meeting are planned, the next task on your list is food and let’s face it. . .food can either make or break your event.

Since day one, AECC understands this and has offered a full catering team that can manage every culinary request. Staying true to their strict code of quality, AECC doesn’t disappoint clients and will arrange anything from an informal buffet for four delegates to a five course banquet for 1500 guests, often providing locally produce food.

AECC can cater for a diverse range of occasions:

• Business Breakfasts
• Industry Dinners
• Large and Small Meetings
• Award Ceremonies
• Dinner Dances

AECC knows how to throw a great event and knows how to make the meeting planner’s job easy. From conception to execution, AECC’s trained staff of professionals is with you each step of the way.

·  Where to Find Us: Upcoming Shows and Sales Calls

International Confex: February 20-22, 2007 in Earls Court, London

VNU Marketplace: March, 2007, New York

·  Who's Meeting Here?

IATEFL Annual Conference: April 18 – April 22, 2007

Oceans '07: June 18 – June 12, 2007

Bone Research Society Annual Meeting: July 3 – July 5, 2007

·  What Does That Mean?

Never underestimate the power of Scottish proverbs! Here’s a few words of wisdom you may look to for advice.

Hittin’ yer dug wi’ a big stick is easy: You will always find a reason to justify any action.

Choose your spouse on Saturday, but not on Sunday: Don’t choose your partner judged solely on when they’re in their Sunday best.

Ye can fool ithers but no yer auld grannie!: You cannot fool your nearest.

Gather yer thoughts before opening yer jaws: Think before you speak.

·  The Scottish Tartan, Continued...

In our continuing series on tartans, in this issue, we give you another truth behind the Scottish Tartan:

Have you ever considered yourself to be Scottish? Names like MacDonald and MacGregor are immediately associated with Scotland, but did you know that there are a number of other common names that are also of Scottish origin? Young, Anderson, Campbell and Crawford are just a few of the many old Scottish clan names, each with their own distinguishing tartan.

·  Great Scots!

Scotland has inspired countless Scottish authors such as Sir Walter Scott, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Burns. Sir Walter Scott is best known for his nineteenth century literary works Waverly and The Lady of the Lake, while Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is known for his Sherlock Holmes detective series. Robert Burns is considered to be Scotland’s National Poet. All three authors are internationally recognized as cultural icons for their achievements in literary advancements.

And if you happen to be in the area on January 25th, be sure to take part in a Burns Supper celebration, a literary soiree that honors the late poet’s life. Each dinner varies, but each involves lot of eating and drinking and most importantly – a lot of active participation from guests when it comes to reciting some of Robert Burn’s poetry! This is a true, local Scottish tradition that shouldn't be missed.