Catering Scotland

Over 100 delegates assembled last week for CalMac’s Travel and Tourism Conference in Glasgow. Presented by journalist and author, Muriel Gray, the event – now in its third year – aims to unite tourism-related businesses from across CalMac’s Clyde and Hebrides network with influential industry leaders and organisations.

Exploring a theme of ‘Navigating Changing Waters’, journalist, broadcaster and author Ms Gray (pictured above left) was joined by adventurer and broadcaster Mark Beaumont The Three Chimneys’ Shirley Spear and CalMac master Captain Lachie Wotherspoon (above right).

Mrs Spear (pictured right) told the conference that the Scottish Government’s Food Commission, of which she is chair, is leading the Good Food Nation campaign which aims to put healthy choices at the heart of the public’s agenda.

‘Our health record is poor and it is deteriorating,’ she said. ‘There needs to be much more understanding of food and why it’s good for us. Why is a so much information ignored? A Good Food Nation is everyone’s business and we have to step up and improve.’

As keynote speaker for the day, cyclist and broadcaster Mark Beaumont was quick to put Scotland at the top of the travel-and-tourism tree. ‘I continue to think that Scotland is the world’s best playground,’ he said. “There is so much diversity packed into such a small land mass but merely visiting is not enough; we need to help people to build their own dreams while they are here.’

Meanwhile, CalMac’s master mariner Lachie Wotherspoon entertained with some humorous tales of life at sea, while the company’s director of customer, sales and marketing, Graeme MacFarlan, explored how the company could develop in light of the new eight-year contract. With details of improvements to booking and ticketing systems, closer working relationships with communities and the appointment of a community-engagement directorate, he was also clear that there are going to be a number of areas where difficult commercial decisions are going to be made.

www.calmac.co.uk