FEATURES

Easterbrook in the running for business tourism award

05 September

Easterbrook Hall, the premium conference venue on the 100-acre Crichton Estate in Dumfries, has been shortlisted for a Business Tourism Award at the 2008 Thistle Awards. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony and dinner on Friday 24 October at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

Easterbrook will be fighting it out with two Edinburgh finalists – the Edinburgh Convention Bureau and Unique Venues of Edinburgh – but venue manager Angela McIntyre believes Easterbrook Hall has what it takes to become a Thistle winner.

‘We have welcomed delegates from all over the UK, not just Scotland,’ she says, ‘and received praise about our transparent pricing system, the efficiency and versatility of the management team, and its high professional standards and attentive service. Being away from mainstream business in Glasgow or Edinburgh motivates us to try harder, but we have an exceptional location with ample free parking and beautiful surroundings – just 20 minutes from the A74.’

Within a two-year period this beautiful venue has flourished under its enthusiastic and professional management team, working in conjunction with its Crichton Estate partners, to create the foremost conference venue outside Scotland’s central belt.

‘Not only is Easterbrook impressive architecturally,’ Angela continues, ‘it is fully wi-fi enabled with the latest computer-controlled audio-visual systems, video conferencing and audio loop. The main auditorium is fully equipped to deal with major events, with professional lighting and sound installations. Our in-house catering team can produce spectacular food for weddings, gala dinners, exhibitions, seminars, conferences, product promotions and launches, training days, or small, intimate anniversary dinners.’

The art deco Easterbrook Hall was officially opened after a £2million refurbishment in 2006. It is a unique conference venue, the product of a transformation of the Crichton Memorial Hospital’s gymnasium and operating theatres into a spectacular and sympathetically designed conference hall, with flexible breakout areas and private rooms capable of accommodating from 10 to 1,000 delegates, and catering in-house for 500.

South-west Scotland is a major tourist attraction, and the team at Easterbrook look to their business and craft partners in the region to enhance what they themselves can offer conference delegates. Angela McIntyre explains: ‘We would not have come this far without the support of partners in south-west Scotland.

‘Conference delegates come to us to work hard, and we can help them make the most of their down time with some of the best attractions and activities Scotland has to offer. We have returning business already, and we want to increase that level of interest.

‘Winning this award would be an amazing experience for us all here, and would be a wonderful reward for the past two years.’