Aberdeen’s loss of a major annual conference to Glasgow was both a surprise and a disappointment to the north-east business community.
Robert Collier, chief executive of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “All-Energy is one of the main annual exhibitions at the AECC (Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre).
“Many of the chamber’s members do good business from the demand it generates for associated services, including transportation, accommodation, and communications.”
Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group chief operating officer Morag McCorkindale, said: “It is deeply disappointing because, with more than 900 energy companies and an unrivalled supply chain in Europe, Aberdeen is the natural home for All-Energy.”
Jeremy Cresswell, editor of the Press and Journal’s Energy supplement, was “furious” and said others would be “aghast”.
The reason for creating the show in the first place was to bring the fledgling renewables sector “face to face” with the oil and gas supply chain in Aberdeen, said Mr Cresswell, who was at the heart of getting the annual event off the ground more than 10 years ago.
Aberdeen City Council Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure director Gordon McIntosh said: “We understand that Reed wanted to change direction and change the format.”
Tourism leaders said new hotels being built in and around the Granite City highlighted progress towards tackling some of the area’s accommodation problems around the time of major events.
VisitAberdeen chief executive Steve Harris said: “We are obviously very disappointed that All-Energy has decided to move to Glasgow.
“It is particularly sad as Aberdeen is booming and we expect to see a 40% increase in the number of bedrooms available, with 12 new hotels planned, over the next three years.”
Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association (Acsha) chairman Chris McGuinness said that if hotel room rates in the Granite City were a factor, the event organisers had not told Acsha about their concerns.
Recommended for you
