The British Association of Conference Destinations (BACD) has announced that all four National Tourist Boards are now full BACD members.

BACD and the four National Tourist Boards - VisitBritain, VisitScotland, Wales Tourist Board and Northern Ireland Tourist Board - will benefit from a closer working relationship.

The National Tourist Boards can now access the advantages and services that full BACD membership brings. Such opportunities include participation in BACD’s regional meetings, collaboration on industry research, enhanced communication between the National Boards and existing BACD members, progressing quality initiatives, and giving the National Boards full entries in the BACD directory and web site.

It will also mean that staff from the National Boards can stand for election to the BACD Board, including the positions of BACD Chair and BACD Treasurer.

Scott Robertson, marketing manager UK market, Business Tourism Unit (BTU) at VisitScotland , said: “As the National Tourist Board of Scotland, we have in the past been an Associate member of BACD.

Following an integration of local tourist boards and convention bureaux, we are now delighted to be a full member. We are looking forward to forging a stronger relationship, and working with, and alongside the British Association of Conference Destinations.”

Said Tony Rogers, BACD chief executive: “Our partnerships with the four National Tourist Boards are of huge importance to our existing members and will greatly benefit the conference industry.

They will increase cohesion in what is frequently seen as a somewhat fragmented industry, further develop the already-strong marketing collaboration between local and national destination marketing organisations, and enable us to lobby and represent the needs of our sector in a more focused and united way.”