Scottish AI Summit
Eden Court, Inverness
12 March, 2025

Trustworthy, Ethical, and Inclusive

The Scottish AI Alliance is delighted to announce the details of the upcoming Scottish AI Summit, set to take place on 12 March 2025 at Eden Court, Inverness. This event will spotlight AI’s impact on tourism and hospitality, and will offer insights, practical application and networking opportunities for businesses and professionals in the sector.

Attendees will gain practical experience of using AI-powered tools, including an introduction to prompt-based Large Language Models (LLMs) and how to maximise their potential. The event will also highlight the resources and support available from the Scottish AI Alliance.

To get a better idea of what to expect, take a look at the highlights from our previous events.

Photography
Please note that there will be photos and videos taken throughout the day of the Summit. Please contact a member of Scottish AI Alliance staff if you do not wish to be in these photos and videos.

Agenda

  • Impact of AI on Tourism - Keynote followed by a panel discussion

  • SAIA GPT Lab - Getting the most out of Large Language Models

  • The Scottish AI Alliance - What we do

  • Panel Discussion on AI’s Impact on Hospitality

Speakers and Panelists

  • Joshua Ryan-Saha is Director of Tourism, Travel and Festivals at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh. With the support of Scottish Enterprise he established Traveltech for Scotland to cement our position as a European leader in travel technology innovation, delivering £20m+ of inward investment.

    He serves on Scotland's Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group, advising on data, AI and technology transformation. Mr. Ryan-Saha has established strategic partnerships with global leaders including Booking.com, Hilton, Marriott, Skyscanner and TravelPerk, building a network of over 250 traveltech companies worldwide.

    In 2024, he delivered AI and tourism innovation workshops to more than 400 industry professionals across Europe, America and Asia, advising destinations on the use of AI. He regularly represents Scotland at international forums, including with the American Hotel and Lodging Association and international traveltech investors.

    Previously, Mr. Ryan-Saha led national data science initiatives at The Data Lab and directed innovation programmes at Nesta, including the Longitude Prize featured on BBC Horizon. His earlier career included roles managing constitutional reform and reconciliation projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, working with UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration, and the Public International Law & Policy Group

  • Jo de Sylva is a Director one of the most well recognised and decorated hospitality brands in the North, MacGregors Hospitality which includes bars, restaurants, and a wedding and events venue. She is also part of the stage show, MacGregors Gathering, which currently tours Scotland taking the bar/hospitality and music of the Highlands to communities across Scotland.

    Previously a BBC events producer and presenter, her life skills have been invaluable in coordinating the hundreds of events at the farm which have also attracted Warner Brothers, Sony Records and Elle magazine to use the venue for private events.

    Jo also regularly comments on hospitality, tourism and business across the BBC for both radio and TV, and also writes for a number of magazines.

    Jo is Vice Chair of The Highland & Islands Thistle Awards, which works to recognise excellence across the tourism industry in the Highlands

Highlights of previous Scottish AI Summits

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