Highland Tourism CIC’s transformational vision for the Highlands to become a world leading sustainable destination brand will be supported by George McNeil, Managing Director—Retail Division at Johnstons of Elgin, who will join the organisation as a brand ambassador and tourism panellist at the CIC’s upcoming tourism and renewables conference.
George McNeil, Managing Director – Retail Division at Johnstons of Elgin, said: “I’m excited to offer my support to Highland Tourism CIC as a brand ambassador. The community interest company’s vision for the region to be put on the map as a world leader in sustainability is something I can really get on board with. The Highlands and Speyside are rich in cultural heritage and have so much to offer high-value visitors who are looking for memorable experiences – experiences that they know won’t have a negative impact on the places or people around them.
“I’m proud to become an ambassador to help drive forward the vision for the Highlands to be one of the world’s leading sustainable destinations.”
George will also sit on the tourism panel at the Tourism and Renewables conference on 24 May at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness which is hosted by Highland Tourism CIC and Highland Renewables working in partnership with The Press and Journal and Energy Voice.
Yvonne Crook, Chair of Highland Tourism CIC said: “It is brilliant to have George come on board as a brand ambassador for Highland Tourism CIC. George brings a wealth of expertise and is a leader in his field, not only through his work with Johnstons of Elgin, one of our region’s strongest sustainable heritage brands, who have recently been awarded the Kings Award for Enterprise and, but also through his role as Chair of the Speyside Whisky Festival.
“We’re at a pivotal moment here in the Highlands and the scale of the opportunity is huge, with the green revolution, to create a strong sustainable brand for the Highlands. George’s support as a brand ambassador further endorses the work of our 200-strong Highland Tourism CIC & Highland Renewables ambassadors to date, who share a bold vision and mission with a single direction for the future economic, social and environmental good of the Highlands.”
Highland Tourism Community Interest Company is a private sector partnership between 200 business and community leaders who share a world leading sustainable destination vision and mission. Highland Renewables, a strategic arm of Highland Tourism CIC, brings together two of the Highland’s key economic sectors.
The marriage of tourism and renewables, a world first, enables a shared investment in the Vision which aims to bring greater economic, social and environmental benefit to the Highlands. Established in 2021, our partnership seeks to ensure all who live, work, visit, study and invest in the Highlands benefit from this unique moment in our region’s history.
The conference comes at an important time in the CIC’s evolution. Over the coming year the private sector will have invested £1m of resources to establish Highland Tourism CIC as an organisation embedded in the community with a bold and confident Highland brand, strategy and collaboration that will leave a legacy for future generations.
Tickets for the conference can be booked here.
The conference is hosted by Highland Tourism CIC and Highland Renewables with community and media partners DC Thomson.
The conference is supported with sponsorship from main sponsor SSEN Transmission and premier sponsors RES and Statkraft.
