Prevue January/February 2013 - (Page 84)

THE SISTER SCOT [ON LOCATION] GREG OATES GLASGOW Forget the castles & kilts. Glaswegians are forging a wholly modern Scotland based on its legacy of innovation. L ocated about 40 minutes by train west of Edinburgh, Glasgow is a tight-knit city built on the banks of the River Clyde. In the early 1900s, the river was home to over 50 shipyards and dozens of locomotive factories. The Queen Elizabeth, QE2 and Queen Mary oceanliners were all built in Glasgow. But like most post-industrial stories go, the Clyde fell into neglect. A once mighty economy slipped into darkness, another ghost of the industrial revolution. Today, the Clyde is thriving once again. Pursuing a long term redevelopment plan, Glasgow is rebuilding the river banks with a barrage of high-tech, multi-use venues designed for both business and cultural events. Aileen Crawford, head of conventions at Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, says the city attracts significant association group business due to the region’s exceptional value and accessibility, and the hands-on service her office provides. Check out seeglasgow.com for a long list of financial and organizational support offered by the DMO. “When you look at the whole package and everything we offer to convention organizers, we’re really competitive and creative when it comes to hosting large events,” she says. “Glasgow has always been a very forward thinking, outward looking, international city because of the global shipping industry. So it has always been a city of innovation.” CONFERENCES ON THE CLYDE Considered among the world’s greatest architects, Zaha Hadid designed the jagged-roof Riverside Museum, which opened in 2011 to celebrate Glasgow’s history in transportation. “We had one million visitors in our first six months, which was our 1-year goal,” says PR manager Gordon Boag. The soaring lobby flows into a recreated cobblestone street scene filled with bootmaker, cabinetry and fish ’n chip shops, available for 150-pax receptions. There’s also an interactive exhibit describing Glasgow’s subway—the third largest in the world after London and Budapest. The main hall showcases train and shipbuilding technology with an amazing array of exhibits, including a restored 1944 Glen Douglas locomotive brought back from South Africa. CEOs have given speeches atop the coal car. There’s a oneof-a-kind ship model conveyor belt with video description about each ship as they pass by. Boag showed off some other ship models dating back to 1775 made by French POWs out of rabbit bones and human hair. And moored outside, the restored Glenlee tall ship hosts 300-pax receptions. Upriver, the armadillo-shaped Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC) is one of the UK’s largest integrated convention centers. In September, The Hydro entertainment arena will open on the SECC site with a 76 | prevue magazine http://www.seeglasgow.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue January/February 2013

Planner's Pick: Whistler, BC
Fresh Meets: Hilton Latin America
Bureau Buzz: Oklahoma City
Good Business: Hong Kong
Sea Shores: Alaskan Dream Cruises
Value & Variety
New Orleans & The Northshore
Convention Districts
Corporate Retreats
On Location: Tropicana Las Vegas
On Location: Leadership Summit, Lima
Special Section: Florida
On Location: Puerto Vallarta
Manchester
On Location: Glasgow
Check Out: San Jose, California

Prevue January/February 2013