Aberdeen Announced as Host of Routes Europe 2015
Aberdeen Announced as Host of Routes Europe 2015
AsiaNet 52765
MANCHESTER, England, Apr. 18 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --
10th Routes Europe to take place in Scotland marking
the first time the event has been held in the UK
It was announced today that Aberdeen City and Shire will host Routes Europe
2015. The announcement, which took place during a press conference at the
Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC), where the event will be held
from 12-14 April 2015, was attended by Cllr Barney Crockett, Leader of the
Council, Aberdeen City Council; Dawn Schultz, City Promotions Manager Economic
& Business Development, Aberdeen City Council; Cllr Peter Argyle- Chair of the
Infrastructure Services Committee Aberdeenshire Council; Brian Horsburgh,
Managing Director, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre; Maya Rousen,
Project Manager, Scottish Enterprise; Martin Ritchie, Aviation Officer,
Transport Scotland; Steve Harris, Chief Executive, VisitAberdeen; Shona
Anderson, Regional Director, VisitScotland; David Stroud, Executive Vice
President of Routes and Katie Bland, Future Hosts Director for Routes.
Routes Europe is the region's largest route development forum and enables
the aviation industry's decision makers from across Europe to examine air
services, discuss new market opportunities and developments and get up to speed
on potential new destinations.
The announcement of Aberdeen as the Host destination for Routes Europe 2015
represents the culmination of a successful bid to host the event which was
initiated by Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ) in which all of the region's
key stakeholders were involved in supporting the proposal. These stakeholders
include: Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen City and Shire
Hotels Association, Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future, AECC, Aberdeen
International Airport, National Trust for Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Travel
Scotland, VisitAberdeen, VisitScotland Business Tourism Unit and VisitScotland.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "The Scottish Government is
working to secure more direct international flights from Scotland and hosting
events such as Routes Europe supports this ambition. This event is a great
opportunity to showcase the continuing strength of the economy of the
North-East and the dynamic nature of Aberdeen International Airport as one of
the fastest growing airports in the UK. It is also an opportunity to showcase
what Scotland as a whole has to offer airline operators, namely an ambitious,
forward-looking country keen to do business with our international neighbours."
Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee,
Peter Argyle, commented: "Bringing this significant tourism event to the
North-East is an excellent achievement, and another demonstration that local
authorities and their partners are working hard to make the most of what the
area has to offer. It is another chance to highlight to those in the travel
trade and airline industry just what we have to offer in this area and try to
secure even more of the global tourism market. We hope that one of the outcomes
will be increased flights and routes to and from Aberdeen International
Airport, with one of the major benefits being increased visitors to the region."
"Aberdeen is one of the very few cities in Europe showing sustained year on
year growth," said Steve Harris, Chief Executive of VisitAberdeen, he
continued: "To have 1000 of the European aviation industry's most senior
decision makers coming here, to see not only our vibrant economy but our
historic city and fabulous countryside, is a wonderful opportunity. We will be
able to demonstrate to airlines the business opportunities that links with
Aberdeen could bring them and any new routes that we can gain as a result will
benefit us all and further strengthen our industries."
Carol Benzie is the Airport's Commercial Director. She said: "Securing
Routes Europe in 2015 is a major achievement for everyone involved. The profile
that this conference will bring to the region is hard to over-state. The event
brings airlines and industry leaders from around the globe to the City and will
ensure that the delegates get a chance to see what the wider region has to
offer." Ms Benzie went on to say: "Our ability to host major events and
showcase our area will be one of the key outcomes of Routes Europe in 2015, and
will provide a lasting legacy within the industry. As a team, we are very much
looking forward to playing our part in what will be a milestone event."
Council leader Barney Crockett said: "Routes Europe is quite simply the
most prestigious and significant conference in its class. As the beating heart
of Europe's oil and gas economy, Aberdeen has taken a big step forward onto the
travel and tourism industry stage in attracting this huge travel event. Part of
the attraction of the City has clearly been the Team Aberdeen approach and I
thank all of our partners. The Airport plays a central role in our economy and
I believe the conference opens a way to extend Aberdeen's offer of air travel."
Aberdeen is the gateway to Scotland's castle and whisky country. Scotland's
Castle trail runs through the heart of Aberdeenshire and the region is home to
13 of the world's most unique castles. Aberdeen is also known as 'the Granite
City', named for its sparkling buildings, built from locally quarried grey
granite, and elegant architecture. The city's old town, Old Aberdeen, dates
back to the 1400s and is home to the oldest granite cathedral in the world, St
Machar's Cathedral. The City, which is home to around 250,000 inhabitants, is
within 15 minutes of the stunning countryside which surrounds Aberdeen and is
also the capital of the Grampian Highlands with the majestic Grampian Mountains
dominating the skyline to the west and miles of unspoiled coastline to the east.
"We are delighted to announce that Aberdeen will be our host city for the
10th Routes Europe in 2015. Delegates will experience the economically vibrant
region of the North-East of Scotland and the myriad of business and leisure
opportunities on offer," commented David Stroud, Executive Vice President for
Routes, who went on to say: "Aberdeen International Airport is already well
connected across Europe and will allow easy access for delegates. Routes Europe
has experienced substantial year on year growth and the AECC will offer plenty
of scope for further growth in 2015. The Aberdeen partners demonstrated a
highly unified and aligned approach in their bid to host the event and we look
forward to working with Team Aberdeen towards Routes Europe 2015 to further
develop air service into ABZ."
Aberdeen provides a great example of the interconnection between air
connectivity and economic growth. Aberdeen International Airport operates over
80 daily scheduled routes and recently went through a runway extension allowing
for new international and national flights into the city. Over 60% of the
Airport's passenger traffic is business traffic predominantly driven by the
energy industry and the airport also has one of the biggest commercial
helicopter operations in the world, carrying over 500,000 passengers per year.
Improving international air connectivity continues to be a key area for the
development of Scotland's globally competitive business environment and Routes
Europe is an ideal opportunity for Scotland to showcase its economic
development potential and the opportunities that exist for the development of
new air links to Europe. With daily services to many regional destinations,
such as London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol,
Copenhagen and Frankfurt, Aberdeen International Airport provides the highest
level of hub connectivity of any UK regional airport.
Notes to Editors
About Routes
- Routes organises world-renowned airline and airport networking events
through its regional and global Route Development Forums. Each year,
there is one global event and one regional event in Asia, Africa,
Europe, the Americas and CIS respectively. http://www.routesonline.com
- Routes was founded in 1995 as part of the Manchester UK-based ASM
Ltd., a consultancy specialising in the field of route development for
airports. http://www.asm-global.com
- Routes and ASM were acquired by UBM Aviation Worldwide Ltd in August
2010. From 1st August 2012 Routes, ASM and the Airport Cities Conference
and Exhibition become part of the UBM Live division of UBM plc.
- UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across
five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new
products, promote their brands and expand their markets. Through
premiere brands such as MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami,
the Concrete Show, the Routes portfolio of events, Airport Cities and
many others, UBM Live exhibitions, conferences, awards programs,
publications, websites and training and certification programs are an
integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20
industry sectors. http://www.ubmlive.com
Follow us on twitter:
@Routesonline, @TheHUBRoutes, @VictoriaRoutes, @NLPROU, @airlineroute
SOURCE: UBM Live Routes Ltd
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