Record-Breaking May for Glasgow as Hotel Occupancy Figures Soar
The growing awareness of Glasgow’s ability to host major conventions and international sporting fixtures - as well as its strong appeal as a weekend leisure destination - are borne out further by the latest figures compiled by the Greater Glasgow Hotels Association City of Glasgow Forecaster, which reports that average occupancy of Glasgow hotels in May 07 was 84% - an increase of 8% over the same period in 2006 - and the highest since records began seven years ago.
Key events contributing to such a bumper month included:
- The 2,000-delegate, Conference of the European Wound Management Association from May 2-4
- Uefa Cup Final at Hampden Park on May 16, which saw hotels at capacity as 27,000 Spanish football fans from Sevilla FC and RCD Espanyol arrived in the city.
- The European Stroke Conference, which welcomed 2,500-delegates from May 29 – June 1.
Commenting, Scott Taylor, Chief Executive – Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said:
“These conventions and events have been five years in the planning and are just part of the strong pipeline of events and conferences coming to the city in the years ahead.
“Our strategy is delivering tangible value to Glasgow and our bid horizon for winning new business extends to 2016.”
Dominic McVey, Co-Chair of Greater Glasgow Hotel Association and General Manager of the Crowne Plaza Glasgow, added:
“High profile conferences and sporting events, as well as strong weekend business from the leisure market stimulated by the Glasgow: Scotland with style branding campaign, were all factors in making May such a superb month.”
Since the launch of Glasgow: Scotland with style just three years ago, 360,000 additional tourists have visited the city, equating to £41.7 million in local economic benefit.
During 2006 the overall average hotel occupancy figure for Glasgow’s hotels was 74%.
ENDS
Further information from:
Nancy McLardie
Head of Public Relations
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
Tel: 0141 566 0830
Note to Editors:
1. Greater Glasgow Hotels Association City of Glasgow Forecaster is produced by Lynn Jones Research Ltd. using data collected from 23 Glasgow hotels, representing approximately 4,069 rooms
2. Glasgow: Scotland with style was launched in March 2004 and has a budget of £4.4 million. The project has secured £2 million from Glasgow City Council and £1.8 million from the European Regional Development Fund through the 2000 - 2006 Western Scotland Objective 2 Programme.
3. Funded by Glasgow City Council with contributions from the private sector, the not-for-profit Glasgow City Marketing Bureau has 40 staff 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
· Development of the website for the Metropolitan area: www.seeglasgow.com