Board Director at Scott Brownrigg, Neil MacOmish has been selected to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation – World Congress on Sports Tourism Scientific Committee. The function of the Committee is to shape the contents of the annual congress, contribute to the discussions and subjects, as well as select special additional speakers.

Neil is the only architect to be on the committee, which comprises:

• Professor Terry Stevens (Chair), MD & Founder, Stevens & Associates, Wales, UK
• Professor Heather GIBSON, Department of Tourism and Recreation Management, Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute, University of Florida, USA
• Professor James HIGHAM, Department of Tourism, Otago Business School, New Zealand
• Professor Grant JARVIE, Chair and Professor, The Academy of Sport, University of Edinburgh Business School, Scotland
• Professor Tanya MIHALIĆ, Department of Economics and Head of the Tourism Institute, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
• Professor John NAURIGHT, Dean of the Stephen Poorman Business School, Lock Haven University, USA
• Professor Marko PERIĆ, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Rijeka, Croatia.
• Professor Carson Jenkins, Emeritus Professor of International Tourism in the Business School, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow and Visiting Scholar at the School of Professional Education and Executive Development, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
• Professor Carles MURILLO, University Pompeu Fabra. Barcelona. Catalonia. Spain.
• Professor Augstí BOIXEDA, INEFC - University of Barcelona. Catalonia. Spain
• Professor Sixte ABADIA, University Ramon Llull - Blanquerna. Barcelona. Catalonia. Spain.
• Maurici CARBÓ, World Sports Tourism Congress Organising Committee and Professor at Ostelea Tourism Management School Barcelona. University of Lleida. Catalonia. Spain

The appointment follows his extensive architectural work within this arena. With over 36 years of design experience, Neil is an expert in the design of sporting venues. Having worked on the 2010 Ryder Cup venue – Celtic Manor in Wales, UK, the SWALEC Stadium, Wales in preparation for the 2009 Ashes Test, the home of the Cardiff Devils Ice Hockey team in Wales, the Kia Oval Cricket Ground in London and the International Sports Village destination in Cardiff to name but a few.

He also recently sat on the Urban Land Institute New York’s Technical Advisory Panel for New York City Football Club’s new stadium.

Sports Tourism relates to all forms of active and passive involvement in sporting activity that necessitates travel away from home and work.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the question of how to facilitate both sporting events and international travel has been the topic of much discussion and debate. This offers an interesting context for the Congress when they meet in Catalunya next year.

The Congress aims to bring together a wide range of interests in the fields of sport and tourism to consider, discuss and debate the future development of sports tourism and its contribution to the UN’s sustainable development goals as they relate to tourism and sport. As signatories of the UN Global Compact, Scott Brownrigg are also committed to implementing a sustainable development strategy and making a positive difference in the world.