Preparations for the largest oil and gas show in the world are well under way, with Scottish firms showing a high level of interest in joining the annual trip to the Offshore Technology Conference in the US.
Aberdeen-based Munro’s Travel Group and the Press and Journal are organising their regular visit to the show, which takes place from April 30 to May 3 in Houston, Texas.
Scotland’s leading energy-industry travel-management firm Munro’s arranges flights and accommodation for about 400 delegates to the show every year.
Managing partner Murray Burnett said 2012 was shaping up to be as busy as previous events.
He said: “We have an allocation of over 330 rooms at the delegation’s HQ hotel, the Hilton Houston Post Oak, and, as in previous years, we expect to sell out.
“So far, more than 85% of the rooms have been booked and we are anticipating the usual last-minute rush. We would encourage anyone wishing to attend OTC and stay at the HQ hotel to contact us as soon as possible.”
Founded in 1969, OTC is the world’s foremost event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection.
A recent survey carried out by Munro’s revealed it remains a key attraction for UK-based oil and gas companies with 15% of delegates having attended 10 or more times and 13% attending more than 20 times.
Of those who attended last year’s event, 90% of people surveyed said they expected to return for the 2012 exhibition.
While Munro’s has provided specialist business-travel services to this event for more than 35 years, it is just one of the services it offers.
The firm has seen significant growth in its core business of providing a complete travel-management service to energy-sector companies around the world.
Munro’s operates two specialist divisions, encompassing business travel and groups and conference. Now the largest it has been in its 108-year history, Munro’s is on track to exceed its current growth targets.
The company now has 100 employees and turnover last year was £48million.
Mr Burnett said: “In the past 12 months, we are fortunate to have experienced a sustained period of increased activity from both our existing customer base and new clients.
“We are optimistic of this continuing as energy companies across the board experience an upturn in activity in key international oil and gas hubs.”