What I should have said
Last week the team attended the main trade exhibition for Scottish tourism – Expo, held this year in Glasgow. The atmosphere was buzzing and overall very positive, and it was a pleasure to feel part of this industry. I had a few very interesting discussions with some possible new additions for our holidays – watch out for some exciting new additions to the website very soon!
At the evening event Heather and I met up with some old friends, and were also delighted to be formally introduced to Philip Riddell, Chief Executive of VisitScotland (the Scottish tourist board). I have heard him speak several times but this was our chance to tell him a little more about our company, and we had an excellent short discussion. My one regret is that my answer to his question – what was your most unusual client request – was rather rambling. A classic case of what I should have said.
You see we certainly have had a few rather different requests over the last 3 years. There was the sheep breeder from Sussex, whose life’s ambition was to go to St Kilda, specifically to Boreray, one of the islands in this small and very remote island group. Why? Because he had been breeding Boreray sheep for many years, and wanted to see the original sheep in their “native” habitat. Although the boat trip we arranged for him was in the end not able to land – Boreray is one of the most impenetrable of islands- basically hundred foot cliffs all round - he was able to spy some sheep through binoculars, and it was indeed an emotional moment for him.
Then there was the Belgian MP who had to make some last minute changes to her family holiday on Mull when she was summoned to attend a vote of confidence for the incumbent government. We had to liaise with her parliamentary private secretary, with some complicated ferry and train times. All sorted in the end - though I never did find out whether the government survived, or indeed what side she was on!
I could go on but I’ll save them for another time…….
May is the first peak of the Scottish holiday season, and already many holiday options are sold out – our wildlife programme for example is fully booked until mid June already. Now is the time when we are on the phone on an almost daily basis to the hotels with whom we work, checking for availability, trying to secure rooms for our clients, checking for any cancellations and generally keeping close to what’s happening locally. It’s also the time when I start to keep close tabs on the weather forecast!
The week finished with Heather and I spending a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon on a deserted sandy beach on the west coast, sharing a bottle of wine and reminding ourselves how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful country.
Robert Kidd is a founding director with his wife