THE GATHERING 2009 - Edinburgh

     A celebration of the contributions made by the clans to the culture and history of Scotland.  You are invited to join The Gathering at Holyrood Park on Saturday, July 25^th and Sunday, July 26, 2009.  The Gathering will take the form of a classic Highland Games and will host the 2009 Heavy Event Championship.  There will be a special clan ceremony held on the magnificent Castle Esplanade, home of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.  This unique occasion will commemorate the contributions made by the clans to the culture and history of Scotland.

 

New Hampshire Highland Games named one of Top 100 Events

AMERICAN BUS ASSOCIATION NAMES THE NH HIGHLAND GAMES ONE OF NORTH AMERICA’S 100 BEST EVENTS FOR 2007
2007 Top 100 Events in North America Announced -- 25 Years and Counting!

With the release of ABA's 2007 Top 100 Events in North America, ABA celebrates 25 years of the Top 100 Events.

What began as a way for motorcoach operators to incorporate new product into their itineraries has grown to one of the most sought-after lists by travel professionals, motorcoach operators and the general public.

(Washington, D.C.) –The American Bus Association (ABA) announced that NH Highland Games, to be held September 21, 22, & 23, 2007, has been designated as one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2007 by an elite tourism industry selection committee. Inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as a supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations magazine, indicates that the NH Highland Games offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world, said ABA.
 

“The attractiveness of the New Hampshire Highland Games as a don’t-miss entertainment value is only part of why its selection this year is such a distinction for Loon Mountain Ski Resort, Lincoln and the surrounding area NH,” said Peter J. Pantuso, ABA’s president and CEO. “The real news here is that the NH Highland Games has been recognized as a potential magnet for tourism dollars, at a time when reenergizing domestic tourism is so important to our spirit and our economy. The honor gives Lincoln, NH an important boost in visibility among professional tour planners.” According to a study recently completed by researchers at The George Washington University, one overnight visit by a motorcoach group can leave from $5,000 to more than $11,000 in a local destination’s economy. Those dollars are spent on lodging, meals, admissions, fees, shopping, souvenirs, services and local taxes.

“Simply put,” said Pantuso, “motorcoach groups spend more and stay longer. That’s why the NH Highland Games is truly a local economic asset. There is no better way to jump-start tourism than to attract motorcoach groups to a great event and convince them to extend their stay.”  

ABA’s 2007 Top 100 Events Selection Committee selected the NH Highland Games from among hundreds of U.S.and Canadian events nominated by state and provincial tourism offices and visitors bureaus. Judges considered the event’s broad appeal, its accessibility to motorcoaches and skill at handling large groups, and a variety of other relevant criteria.  

“The towns of Lincoln and Woodstock are looking forward to hosting the New Hampshire Highland Games, in the heart of the beautiful White Mountains,” said Brian McCarthy, Executive Director of the Lincoln-Woodstock Chamber of Commerce. “We have everything right here to host this great event and have several resorts who are quite adept at providing a great experience for bus groups. We look forward to being able to host bus loads of people looking to explore their Scottish heritage. It is indeed an honor for our communities to be hosting an event ranked about the top 100 in the country by the ABA”  

The Top 100 Events list is available online at http://www.buses.org

The New Hampshire Gathering of the Scottish Clans is a not-for-profit New Hampshire Corporation dedicated to the furtherance of the dance, music, athletics and customs of the Scottish people - and to the continuance of the Gaelic culture. For further information, call the N.H. Highland Games at 603-229-1975 or 800-358-SCOT or the Lincoln-Woodstock Chamber of Commerce at 603-745-6621 or visit www.nhscot.org or www.lincolnwoodstock.com