BUSINESS tourism brought in £141 million for the economy of Scotland’s biggest city during the last financial year, figures show.
Conference revenue averaged at £2.7m per week between April 2015 and the end of March this year, according to a report by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB).
In the last financial year the city confirmed more than 500 new international and UK meetings through to 2022, equating to 420,000 delegate days.
The results mark a record best and council leader Frank McAveety, chair of GCMB, said the city was gaining a reputation as “one of the world’s premier business tourism destinations”.
Last year conferences held in the city included the European Association of Archaeology at Glasgow University, and the Diabetes UK annual congress, which took place at the SECC.
That venue also hosted the European Association of International Education Convention, while the International Space Planes/Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference at the University of Strathclyde’s Technology Innovation Centre was held at Strathclyde University. More than 10,000 delegates attended these four gatherings, boosting the local economy by in excess of £15m.
GCMB attributes the success to the work of its Glasgow Conference Ambassador Programme, which secured almost half of all conference business booked last year.
The programme uses more than 1,700 ambassadors from the local academic, scientific, medical and business communities to persuade their sectors and associations to meet in the city.
Successful bids include the 2018 summit of the European Association for Chinese Studies, thanks to Chinese Art lecturer Dr Minna Torma of Glasgow University and the 2021 International Conference on Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, which was secured by surgeon David Koppel of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Last month a report by the International Congress and Convention Association showed Glasgow had attracted almost 37,000 delegates last year – more than New York, Washington, Beijing and Munich.
Yesterday McAveety said: “Our year end results are a clear endorsement of the confidence that the global meetings industry continues to have in Glasgow and further strengthens our reputation as one of the world’s premier business tourism destinations.
“Glasgow is a great example of a city that understands the relevance of its knowledge hub economy. In 2015-16, nearly half of all conference business confirmed to Glasgow for future years was in our key economic sectors of life sciences, medical, energy, sustainability, low carbon industries, engineering, financial and business services – which represents 10 per cent growth on the previous year.
“The importance of our world-class ambassador programme in that cannot be understated. Our ambassadors are experts within their specific industries and working closely with them ensures that we’re aware of the trends and latest research developing in their fields.”
Kathleen Warden, director of conference sales at the SECC, added: “Once again, Glasgow is demonstrating its position as a major UK and international conference location and we are delighted that the SECC continues to be a strong economic driver for Glasgow and Scotland.”
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