A warm welcome awaits IMEX visitors to the Scotland Stand (F440) where the very best of Scottish conference and event facilities will be showcased.

In every corner of Scotland, there is something to suit events large and small. Whether buyers are looking for the contemporary or the traditional, state-of-the-art conference centres or unusual venues, there will be plenty to tempt on the VisitScotland Business Tourism Unit (BTU) stand.

Scotland’s three major cities all boast first-class exhibition and conference centres. Both Edinburgh and

Glasgow have significant new developments planned and a flavour of these will feature at IMEX.

Throughout Scotland new facilities are coming on stream all the time, existing venues are upgrading and extending to cope with demand, and in total something in the order of £800 million is being invested in the conference sector across the country.

Five-star hotels and resorts will be on display. From the world-famous Gleneagles Hotel, firmly on the global map following the successful G8 Summit held there last year, to Westin Turnberry Resort, famed as one of the greatest Open championship venues.

These will rub shoulders with De Vere Cameron House Hotel & Resort set in a breathtaking location on the banks of Loch Lomond and St Andrews Bay Golf Resort and Spa with its two world-class golf courses.

While Scotland is renowned as the true home of golf, there is also no shortage of the unexpected and

unusual. Perhaps the literal flagship of these is the Royal Yacht Britannia, where events and receptions

can be staged in truly royal style.

Historic Scotland will showcase a portfolio of castles, including the iconic Edinburgh and Stirling Castles, each of which provides a stunning backdrop for conferences, meetings and incentive events.

Another gem on the Scotland stand is Myres Castle, one of the country’s foremost exclusive use venues,

and a perfect hideaway for private meetings and house parties. Or if the preference is for a city centre location with style, the Scotsman Hotel or the Dome - both in Edinburgh - are venues with character.

Each breathes new life into buildings that were originally created for commercial purposes - one a former newspaper headquarters and the other a flagship banking hall – and preserves a sense of a bygone era while providing the ultimate in contemporary surroundings.

The Scotland stand is the perfect place to do business – and to enjoy a flavour of famous Scottish hospitality.

Be sure to visit around 4 pm on 30th and 31st May for whisky tasting and whisky cocktails and keep your

eyes peeled for Scottish influences throughout the show. Joining the Scottish team is the famous

‘hairy haggis’ who can be spotted among the crowds evading his hunter, and the world’s tallest Scotsman,

‘Big Rory’, who will tower above the aisles and point the way to Stand F440.

Shona Telfer, BTU European marketing manager, said: “We have been represented at IMEX every year since the show first opened in Frankfurt and our 2006 stand features a bigger line-up than ever before. With the number of visitors forecast to increase on last year’s 7,000, and even more countries represented, we are delighted to be showcasing the best of Scotland to buyers from all around the globe. Events such as IMEX certainly help Scotland to take its place alongside the finest venues in the world.”