Chief executive of VisitScotland delivers 2017 Moffat Lecture

The chief executive of VisitScotland has delivered the 2017 Moffat Lecture at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Malcolm Roughhead OBE discussed the need to attract new talent into the industry and the importance of doing more to promote tourism as a career choice in schools.

Entitled Going from Good to Great to World Class, the Changing Face of Tourism, the lecture preceded the annual Moffat scholarship prize giving ceremony.

Mr Roughead told students, lecturers and invited guests from the tourism industry: “We have 23 different nationalities within VisitScotland. We have everybody from digital developers to content managers through to analytics, marketing and sales. The plethora of opportunity not only in VisitScotland but in the industry is there.

“Educators are very much the influencers of this industry. We have got to be able to explain that tourism is a career of choice. Where else can you gain transferable skills, where you can go round the world if you want to, and take them with you?

“We have to think more creatively about how we position a career in tourism, so we do bring in the brightest and the best and we do get to point where Scotland is world class.”

The Moffat Scholarships were established in 1998 through generous funding from the Moffat Charitable Trust, which was set up by the late James H Moffat and his wife, Dr Margie Moffat OBE, the founders of AT Mays Travel Agent Chain. Dr Jamie Moffat, the son of James Moffat, plays an active role in the selection of Moffat Scholars and presented this year’s award alongside Mr Roughead and Professor John Lennon.

2017 Moffat Scholars

 

  • Chloe Allan - A third-year International Events Management student with considerable experience working at events in the music industry
  • Hannah Curtis - A fourth-year International Events Management student who has a keen interest in live music and working at music festivals
  • Christopher Greenwood - In the final year of a PhD in Tourism Policy Development
  • Katarzyna Kaczor - A fourth-year International Events Management student who has been working in the industry in Poland and in Scotland
  • Alexander Kruijsse - A fourth-year student who dedicates his time outside of studying to volunteering
  • Lauren Morrison - Lauren joins GCU after receiving A grades for her work at City of Glasgow College
  • Giuseppe Trimarco - A third-year student who is proud to receive the Moffat Scholarship which will allow him to invest in his personal education
  • Niall Smyth - A second-year International Events Management student who has many years' experience in the tourism industry