ETAG 26 Conference

Join us and industry colleagues at the ETAG Conference 2026

We are delighted to be hosting ETAG 2026 at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, where better to look forward to what the future Edinburgh’s tourism economy holds?!

As always, we will kick off with a Networking Lunch from 12noon, giving you the chance to catch up with colleagues and make new contacts.

Lunch will be followed by a great line up of speakers providing their insights and expertise on the current key issues and hot topics in tourism, including: Destination Development: An International Perspective, Accessible Tourism and AI in Tourism.

The much loved ‘Spotlight Sessions’ will be back with updates from a range of exciting updates on tourism developments and projects across the city.

You’ll have the chance to continue discussions with friends and colleagues at an evening networking reception from 5pm - 6:30pm, thanks to sponsorship from The Edinburgh University Hospitality Collection.

* ETAG CONFERENCE PROGRAMME 2026 *

12:00pm – 12:50pm | Networking & Lunch (Registration open from 11:30am)

1:00pm – 1:10pm | Welcome
Conference Host - Neil Ellis, Chair of Edinburgh Hotel Association

1:10pm – 1:20pm | ETAG - Changes, Challenges & Opportunities
Donald Emslie, Chair of ETAG

1:20pm – 1:40pm | Transformational Change for the City
Paul Lawrence, Chief Executive, City of Edinburgh Council

1:40pm – 2:10pm | Everyone’s Edinburgh: Accessible Tourism
Marina Di Duca, Inclusive Tourism Manager, VisitScotland

2:10pm – 2:30pm | AI – the Prizes & Pitfalls
Joshua Ryan-Saha, Director – Traveltech, Edinburgh Futures Institute

2:30pm – 3:10pm | Coffee Break

3:10pm – 4:00pm | Spotlight Sessions: What’s New in Edinburgh
(i) Lothian
(ii) Edinburgh Convention Bureau
(iii) Tour De France Grand Départ 2027

4:00pm – 4:50pm | Destination Management: An International Perspective
Jane Cunningham, Director of European Engagement at Destinations International

4:50pm – 5:00pm | Closing remarks
Donald Emslie, Chair of ETAG

5:00pm – 6:30pm | Networking Drinks Reception
Sponsorship by The Edinburgh University Hospitality Collection

Our inspiring venue: Edinburgh Futures Institute:
The Edinburgh Futures Institute is housed in the former Old Royal Infirmary, a landmark building with a rich history stretching back to 1879.

Following a major seven-year restoration, the site has been re-imagined as a hub for interdisciplinary learning, innovation and collaboration. Its motto, Patet Omnibus (“open to all”), is carved in stone above the entrance and reflects EFI’s ethos: bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to explore, create and exchange ideas.

ETAG Conference 2026 Supporters:
#ETAG26 will be delivered with the generous support of The University of Edinburgh Hospitality Collection, VisitScotland, Lothian, Anderson Live Productions and Blendology.

N.B. This event is aimed at Edinburgh tourism and hospitality businesses only who operate on a B2C (Business to Consumer) or B2B (Business to Business) basis. Unfortunately, we can’t offer places to students.