Whisky Focus - Record Visitors At Morrison Bowmore Distilleries

Morrison Bowmore has announced a record whisky tourism season for its three whisky distillery visitor centres this year and for the company’s second Auchentoshan whisky festival in August.

Visitor numbers to the Bowmore Distillery on Islay increased by an impressive 29 per cent during the 2010 season compared with the same period last year, helped by a significant rise in domestic British visitors to the island in June and July.

An overall nine per cent rise in visitor numbers across all three Morrison Bowmore distillery visitor centres was reported for 2010, which includes the Glen Garioch Distillery near Aberdeen and the Auchentoshan Distillery near Clydebank.

The total income generated from whisky tourism across each of Morrison Bowmore’s distillery visitor centres has also increased by three per cent this year compared with the same period in 2009.

Following the success of the first Auchentoshan whisky festival last year, Morrison Bowmore staged a second celebration of gourmet food and drink at Scotland’s only triple distilled whisky distillery near Clydebank on Saturday 28 August. The number of visitors to the 2010 Auchentoshan whisky festival increased by nine per cent and the income generated from the event also rose by a significant 25 per cent this year.

Morrison Bowmore invested around £40,000 in this year’s Auchentoshan whisky festival, which benefited the local community and economy by welcoming over 2800 visitors to the event and the area.

As part of Morrison Bowmore’s continued investment in its three distillery visitor centres, whisky festivals and commitment to whisky tourism in Scotland, the company appointed its first dedicated visitor centre operations and development manager earlier this year. Anne Kinnes has taken on the key new role, bringing with her over 25 years experience in the leisure, retail and hospitality sectors. Before joining Morrison Bowmore, Anne spent over two years at VisitScotland as a strategic development executive and business product manager. Her two consecutive roles involved managing national strategy in key areas of food and drink, transport, rural access and investment.

Commenting on the company’s successful whisky tourism season, Anne Kinnes said: "I’m really proud to have been appointed Morrison Bowmore’s first dedicated visitor centre operations and development manager and look forward to leading the company in the development of its visitor facilities and services."

"The success of Morrison Bowmore’s distillery visitor centres and the Auchentoshan whisky festival is due to the dedication of staff working in all areas of the business and the company’s commitment to whisky tourism in Scotland."

"The Auchentoshan whisky festival has performed particularly well this season and continues to attract whisky lovers and foodies as well as many families from the local area."

In 2008 Morrison Bowmore invested £500,000 in the Auchentoshan distillery visitor centre, helping to boost Glasgow’s tourism by offering distillery tours, whisky sampling and a cinema, as well as flexible conference and event facilities. The Auchentoshan Distillery Visitor Centre welcomes around 25,000 visitors each year and holds the five-star quality accreditation from VisitScotland.

Morrison Bowmore has recently invested approximately £1 million in the Bowmore Distillery Visitor Centre, which welcomes around 10,000 visitors each year and holds the five-star quality accreditation from VisitScotland.

The company has also invested around £500,000 in the Glen Garioch Distillery Visitor Centre in Aberdeenshire, which welcomes around 6,000 visitors each year and holds the four-star quality accreditation from VisitScotland.
 

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