North-east hoteliers and tourism chiefs believe the success of the Scottish Open could help position Aberdeen as one of the top weekend break destinations in the UK.
A record number of fans attended the prestigious golf tournament at Royal Aberdeen, with a total crowd of more than 65,800 watching top players such as Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickleson and eventual winner Justin Rose.
First Minister Alex Salmond said organisers and the north-east public had helped to “enhance” the reputation of the European Tour competition.
Now VisitAberdeen is working with Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association to attract more weekend events to the area.
Stephen Gow, general manager at Thistle Hotels, speaking on behalf of the association, said: “The Scottish Open has been a terrific event for Aberdeen city and shire.
“The city needs to be hosting even more high profile weekend events like this where guests can take advantage of the great value which Aberdeen’s hotels offer.
“There’s been an uplift in weekend bookings due to the Scottish Open and the television coverage in the UK and US has showcased not just the course at Royal Aberdeen, but the host of attractions in our area, from castles to coastal villages.
“The Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association is working in close partnership with VisitAberdeen to attract further weekend events like this to the city to position Aberdeen as one of the best value weekend break destinations in the UK.”
Peter Medley, marketing director at VisitAberdeen said the city was now “firmly on the global map” as a destination for golfers.
He said: “The event has been massively positive for local businesses with thousands of visitors attending the sporting event.
“It has given the economy a boost that we will see the benefits of for years to come.”
Aberdeenshire East MSP Mr Salmond, who attended the event over the weekend, said the staging of the Scottish Open was “nothing short of a resounding success”.
He added: “We had one of the most competitive fields ever seen on a European Tour event, four days of top class golf on a wonderful course, beamed across the world to showcase the north east’s stunning scenery, and a fantastic host city in Aberdeen.”