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GLASGOW BUSINESS AUGUST 2015


CONTENTS/PRESIDENT


Vic Emery, President president@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com


Success of the Games still reverberates in city


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It was great to welcome David Grevemberg – the former Chief Executive Officer of Glasgow 2014 who now holds a similar role with the Commonwealth Games Federation – in July to participate in our Glasgow Talks series. It was a welcome reminder of the fantastic success for Glasgow that the Games was. One year on from the Games it


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is important for us not to take our eye off the economic development impact from the event. It should be underlined, firstly, that a lot of business went to Glasgow companies – more than £200 million worth during the delivery of the Commonwealth Games, so that is not an insubstantial economic impact in itself.


And clearly there are some News


Chamber news Glasgow news Partner news Member news New members


Events Training


Inspiring City Awards Glasgow Business Awards 6


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Past and forthcoming events 19 Glasgow Talks


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Features GBA winner profile


Glasgow Chamber’s expectations of city’s MPs


Games legacy for city


Games legacy: focus on tourism sector


Business travel Green business Meetings venues


Column BIG Talks


Cover image: David Grevemberg and Beth Tweddle MBE 23


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physical development legacies as a result of the Games that are continuing to have an impact. These legacies include the SSE Hydro Arena (and its impact on hotel occupancies), the effect on local areas like Finnieston, and the ability of the city to attract conference business. These are all parts of the legacy story. The continued regeneration


of the East End with the move of Police Scotland’s West of Scotland Administrative HQ from Pitt Street to Dalmarnock is another legacy. Equally, the refitted Athlete’s Village has seen strong demand for subsequent phases of development and it is acting as a catalyst for the continued redevelopment and transformation of the East End of the city. We also welcome the important


role that Robert Smith, Baron Smith of Kelvin, is playing in this economic development drive as Chair of Clyde Gateway. His appointment


was a very strong indication of the commitment to continue that work, which is vital and is only eight years into a 20-year programme. The legacy of the


Commonwealth Games 2014 includes a positive impact on health and the take up of many different sports in the city region. However, from our perspective as Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, the most important element is the impact on the profile of the city and, in particular, our concern to see the leisure tourism figures grow over the next few years. It is too early


to tell how successful this will be – we are always going to be


working with the relevant agencies to encourage an


increase in leisure tourist visits to Glasgow to


add to the excellent achievements on conference and major events tourism. It is helpful to see the number of new flights being opened up to Glasgow Airport – the airport is now used by 30 airlines with many having placed their faith in the destination by launching or expanding routes to and from Glasgow. Glasgow Airport is set to top the eight million passenger mark and should be heading towards nine million passengers. There are many positive signs and many individual and co-ordinated efforts to continue to improve the picture. But at the end of the day the real proof remains to be seen. It will be in 2016 when we will see whether tourist numbers have increased in the way we hope they will. So, this is still a work in progress


and we all need to redouble our efforts to seek to achieve the success that will benefit our members and the whole of the economy of the city region.


Glasgow Business . 3 www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com


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