Glasgow's Hotel Stock Booming
The number of hotel rooms in Glasgow has grown by 40% in the past six years, confirming the city as one of the best equipped and most competitive conference venues in Britain.
As well as significantly expanding the stock of three and four star rooms, the city, which was re-branded Glasgow: Scotland with style in 2004, has also witnessed a renaissance at the top end of the market.
Among the most exciting new developments are:
- Radisson SAS becoming the city’s latest five star-property.
- The Hilton Glasgow undergoing a £1.5 million (€2.2m) refurbishment.
- Crowne Plaza returning to Scotland with the re-branding of the Glasgow Moat House.
- A £1.5 million (€2.2m) refurbishment underway at one of the city’s original style hotels, Malmaison Glasgow.
- Glasgow Hotel of the Year One Devonshire Gardens launching the £1000 (€1,400) per night Mews Suite.
- The landmark Royal Scottish Automobile Club becoming a five-star hotel in 2007.
Travel times from Glasgow Airport to the city centre are set to be slashed in 2008, if the Scottish Parliament approves a £160 million (€233m) rail link.
Molly Doheny, head of the Convention Bureau at Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, which celebrates its first birthday on April 1, said: “Glasgow has undergone a renaissance in recent years to become one of Europe’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan destinations, and our hotel inventory has grown significantly to meet this increased demand from both conference delegates and leisure visitors.
“From a conference of 50 people through to 15,000, Glasgow has the hotel rooms to cope – and at highly competitive rates. And the rail link would make it quicker than ever for airline passengers to get from Glasgow Airport to the city centre.”
In 2004, the city hosted the European Respiratory Society conference with 15,000 delegates. This summer, the city will welcome 5,000 delegates for the Congress of the European Renal Association, and 4,000 for the European Federation of Neurological Societies Congress.
The city has confirmed major conferences up to 2010, including in 2008:
- the International Congress of Midwives (3,000 delegates);
- the World Congress on Pain (5,000);
- the International Astronautical Federation (2,000).
The city’s credentials as one of Britain’s most affordable conference destinations have been reinforced by a survey last year on prices for conferences of 500 people. (See Note 1) The Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC) was listed ninth in price out of 20, cheaper than many rival destinations in the UK.
There are now:
- 12,000 hotel rooms within a 10-mile radius of Glasgow city centre – a 40% increase in six years;
- 1,760 four star hotels in the city centre and 732 within 2-20 miles of the city; 2,880 city centre three-star rooms and further 2,593 within 2-20 miles;
- 604 city centre five-star rooms (Hilton, Radisson SAS and One Devonshire Gardens), increasing to 753 if nearby hotels Mar Hall at Bishopton and Cameron House on Loch Lomond are included. The number will rise to 862 when the Town House Company transform the former Royal Scottish Automobile Club in Blythswood Square into a 109 bedroom hotel.
The award-winning Radisson SAS Glasgow, which opened four years ago, has been awarded five-stars by VisitScotland, making it one of only three in Glasgow and 15 in Scotland.
General manager Philip Mahoney said: “The hotel was designed with this award in mind but Radisson is, fundamentally, a four-star brand. As Radisson SAS has developed across Europe and the Middle East, we have constantly been pushing the boundaries of the four-star offering with our new, stylish hotels and ground-breaking, relaxed service delivery encompassed within our ‘Yes I Can’ approach to guest care.”
The Hilton Glasgow has begun a £1.5 million (€2.2m) refurbishment of 84 rooms, including the conversion of six twins into doubles.
Malmaison Glasgow’s £1.5m (€2.2m) refurbishment of its 72 bedrooms and brasserie includes a new Veuve Cliquot champagne bar, and the Big Yin penthouse suite, which has a nine-foot bed, free-standing tartan bathtub in the sitting room and a double shower.
One Devonshire Gardens, the luxury West End boutique hotel, which has been named Glasgow Hotel of the Year in the Scottish Hotel of the Year awards, is about to unveil one of the most opulent suites available in the country. The £1000 (€1,400) a night mews suite is entered through a secret doorway in the hotel and features a private garden and private gym.
In its list of the 850 best hotels in the world, the American guide Zagat listed eight in Britain which were ‘absolutely fabulous’ – and One Devonshire Gardens was the only one of the eight to be outside London. Guests now also have their own pillow menu, allowing them to choose from goose feather and down, duck feather, non-feather firm fill and extra-soft, and non-feather snow pillows.
Crowne Plaza returns to Scotland with the re-branding of the Glasgow Moat House, next to the SECC. The re-branding includes the multi-million pound transformation of the four-star hotel’s 283 bedrooms and bathrooms, a new executive lounge, the refurbishment and opening of a new restaurant and bars, conference and meeting areas, and air conditioning throughout the entire hotel.
The Arthouse Hotel has been relaunched as ABode Glasgow by hotelier Andrew Brownsword and two-Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines. The 60 bedrooms are divided into Comfortable, Desirable, Enviable, and Fabulous categories.
ENDS February 2006
Issued by and for further information from:
Moira Dyer - Senior Manager, PR
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
Tel: +44 (0) 141 566 0831
Fax: +44 (0) 141 566 0855
Email: moira.dyer@seeglasgow.com
(or)
Stephen Breen - Ambassador Programme Public Relations
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
Tel: +44 (0) 141 566 0833. Mob: 07803506222
Fax: +44 (0) 141 566 0855
E Mail: stephen.breen@seeglasgow.com
Note to editors:
1. The survey was carried out last October by Meetings and Incentive Travel magazine.