Hundreds of north-east business people have begun flying into the US city of Houston for the world’s most important oil and gas show.
More than 350 delegates are on the annual trip to the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) organised by Munro’s Travel Group, of Aberdeen, and the Press and Journal.
The four-day event kicks off on Monday.
Last year’s show attracted more than 70,000 people from around the world.
Ian Massie, head of group and leisure travel at Munro’s, said yesterday: “Everyone is looking forward to a good OTC, with the opportunity to see the latest technology, meet important business connections and land contracts.”
The Scottish delegation is occupying 350 rooms at its HQ hotel, the Hilton Houston Post Oak.
Meanwhile, the organisers of OTC have said the event will go on as planned, despite the swine flu outbreak.
They are to take precautions to protect public health and encourage people to practise healthy habits, including frequent hand-washing.
Aberdeen-based oilfield service company Dominion Gas will have a strong presence at OTC. It is to exhibit at the show for the first time, and five senior staff from the firm and subsidiary Argon Isotank are travelling to attend the event.
Dominion chief executive George Yule, said: “Houston is the HQ for many of our global clients and an extremely important part of our international growth strategy.
“OTC is a world-class oilfield event and an obvious attraction for us at this point. Having recently announced expansion into west Africa, Middle East and Australia, we are now very much focused on the Americas as the next stage in Dominion’s international growth.”
Among the Barclays team in Houston is its Aberdeen-based regional director, Walter Cumming.
He said: “Barclays has been working over the past year on expanding and enhancing its offering to the oil and gas sector.”
Aberdeen Lord Provost Peter Stephen and council leader Kate Dean are also among the Munro’s delegation. Mr Stephen said: “During these difficult economic times, attendance at the annual OTC event offers the city and shire a unique opportunity to showcase the strengths of our energy industry.
“Our stand at OTC allows us to offer support to both the business and education sectors, giving them a platform from which to do business.”
The Underwater Centre, at Fort William, will be at the show for the first time.
General manager Steve Ham said: “The oil and gas sector is where our focus lies and, given that OTC is the world’s biggest oil show, we thought it was important to start making ourselves seen.”
Aberdeen-based recruitment specialist LA Recruitment is attending OTC for the fourth year in a row.
Law firm McGrigors raised the curtain on its visit to OTC in Houston with a breakfast seminar yesterday covering issues affecting operator and service companies working in the oil and gas sector in the UK continental shelf.
The event, at the Hilton Houston Post Oak, was led by McGrigors partners and energy team specialists Bob Ruddiman, John Rutherford and Martin Ewan.