Glasgow's Five Star Promise to Conference Organisers
Glasgow has unveiled a unique Five Star Promise to conference organisers encompassing hotels, transport, convention facilities, an accommodation booking service and marketing support that is tailored to assist organisers in an unprecedented way.
Glasgow’s hoteliers, the city’s principal public transport provider, the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC) and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) have joined forces to offer a comprehensive pledge to meetings organisers that sets the city apart from the competition. (The full Five Star Promise can be found in the notes to editors)
As part of the Five Star Promise, Greater Glasgow Hotels Association (GGHA) pledges that prices will not be artificially inflated when major events and conferences are in the metropolitan area.
Scotland’s largest city offers the UK’s only conference travel ticket, which allows delegates unlimited travel on buses, trains, the underground and ferries throughout the metropolitan Glasgow area.
The SECC is the UK’s largest integrated conference and convention centre, and it offers all-inclusive pricing where AV and technical support, cleaning and security come as standard.
GCMB offers marketing support to organisers of city-wide conferences to help to build delegate numbers, including marketing of Glasgow and the event at previous conferences. And once the city-wide meeting comes to Glasgow, GCMB will promote, support and publicise the event.
Finally, GCMB offers a free room booking service that can block-book rooms, retain and administer allocations until the convention, or hand them over to the conference organiser after they are reserved. Last year, GCMB block-booked a remarkable 300,000 room nights for conferences and events. And GCMB will hold regular meetings with city hoteliers on behalf of conference organisers to ensure their needs are met.
Scott Taylor, the chief executive of GCMB, said: “This promise is unique and demonstrates the importance that the conference industry in Glasgow attaches to exceeding conference organisers’ needs. People buy from brands that they trust and successful cities develop strategies to deepen brand loyalty.
“For Glasgow, our focus has gone beyond simply winning conferences; it is about retaining customer loyalty in the long-term, adding value to customers and adding depth to our reputation.”
Glasgow has a number of repeat international and UK conferences including HIV in Drug Therapy (2,000 delegates), the British Cardiovascular Society (3,000), and the British Association of Urological Surgeons (1500).
Willie Wood, general manager Glasgow Marriott Hotel and co-chair of the Greater Glasgow Hotels Association, said: “Glasgow's hoteliers recognise how vital conferences are to the city's economy, and we are committed to giving value for money to conference organisers and their delegates.
"This price pledge underscores our commitment to giving unbeatable value for money coupled with quality service and will send a clear message to the marketplace that Glasgow's hotels are playing a full part in making this city one of the top conference destinations in the world.”
Valerie Davidson, assistant chief executive of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, said: “The Glasgow conference ticket is unique in the UK, allowing delegates unlimited travel on buses, trains, ferries and the Subway throughout the metropolitan Glasgow area and beyond into Ayrshire and Loch Lomond.
"This means some of the most outstanding scenery in Scotland and a number of the world's greatest golf courses are just a short journey away from the conference hall. Crucially, the ticket also covers Glasgow and Glasgow Prestwick Airports, which means the delegates' public transport needs are met from the moment they touch down. It is a powerful product that undoubtedly gives Glasgow a competitive edge over its rivals when it comes to attracting conferences."
Ben Goedegebuure, director of conferences at the SECC said: “The SECC offers all-inclusive pricing, which I know as a former organiser of international conferences, means no hidden costs. We are proud to offer this service which, together with the other elements of the Five Star Promise, makes Glasgow an unbeatable proposition for conference organisers.”
Molly Doheny, head of the Convention Bureau at Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “This is a further example of the way all the different elements of Glasgow’s conference infrastructure really pull together to offer the best possible package to conference organisers. This is a significant point of difference between Glasgow and other destinations which I am sure will contribute to Glasgow’s conference success story going on from strength to strength.”
Note to Editors:
1. Glasgow's Five Star Promise to Conference Organisers
Glasgow hoteliers are committed to giving value for money to conference and events organisers and their clients, and undertake not to artificially inflate their prices when major events or conferences are being held in the metropolitan Glasgow area. This will be monitored by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) at its regular meetings with the Greater Glasgow Hotels Association to ensure that the city is competitive.
Glasgow is home to the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC), the UK’s largest integrated conference and exhibition centre, which offers all-inclusive pricing that includes AV equipment and technical support, cleaning and security as standard.
Glasgow has the UK’s only conference travel ticket, which allows delegates unlimited travel on buses, trains, the underground and ferries throughout the metropolitan area, including Glasgow Airport and Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
For city-wide conferences, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau will work with conference organisers to build delegate numbers through marketing and sales support, including secondary marketing of the event at preceding conferences and production of bespoke tourist and business information. Once the city-wide conference is in Glasgow, GCMB undertakes to promote, publicise and support the meeting through banner welcomes, civic hospitality and a range of other services.
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau offers a free accommodation booking service that can block book rooms, retain and administer allocations until the convention, or hand them over to the conference organiser after they are reserved. And GCMB undertakes to hold regular meetings with city hoteliers on behalf of conference organisers to ensure their needs are met.
2. Glasgow City Marketing Bureau has a staff of 40 staff who are engaged in national and international activity comprising:
- Development and implementation of the city branding campaign: Glasgow: Scotland with style
- Conventions, incentives, meetings and exhibition sales
- Conference and event accommodation bookings
- Event creation, attraction, management and marketing
- Public Relations
- Management of the website: www.seeglasgow.com for the metropolitan area
3. Picture caption - Five Star Attraction: Pictured launching Glasgow’s Five Star Promise to conference organisers are, from left to right, Ben Goedegebuure, director of conferences at the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre, Molly Doheny, head of Convention Bureau at Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Valerie Davidson, assistant chief executive Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, Dominic McVey, general manager of the Crowne Plaza Glasgow and co-chair of the Greater Glasgow Hotels Association, and Scott Taylor, chief executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.
Issued by and for further information:
Stephen Breen
Convention Bureau Public Relations
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
Tel: +44 (0) 141 566 0833
Email: stephen.breen@seeglasgow.com
(or)
Moira Dyer
Senior Manager - Public Relations
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
Tel: +44 (0) 141 566 0831
Email: moira.dyer@seeglasgow.com
PR74/FIVESTARPROMISE/OCT06