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www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
Scottish Event Campus Investment
The Scottish Event Campus is building a persuasive case for a £150 million investment which will enhance Glasgow’s international reputation. Kenny Kemp reports on the background
T
he Scottish Event Campus (SEC) might be the jewel in Glasgow’s
entertainment and conference crown, but it cannot afford to rest on its laurels. Every year the
international competition is heating up. While Glasgow ranks third in the UK for international meetings, behind London and Edinburgh, and 68th in the world, more major global cities are developing outstanding facilities. Glasgow is being pitched against the likes of Vienna,
Copenhagen, Barcelona, Milan, Melbourne, Montreal and Toronto, all with major facilities, while African nations, such as Nigeria, are increasingly seeing the value of attracting international conferences. It’s a frantic process to keep ahead. Against this backdrop of increased choice, the SEC simply cannot afford to stand still. Its directors have put forward an ambitious vision to become the best event campus in Europe, which will deliver continuing benefits to Glasgow. Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is among a
number of significant Scottish organisations “delighted” to support the proposed next-phase development of the SEC. Richard Muir, the Chamber’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “Assets such as the SEC enable us to attract visitors which the city business community can then capitalise on to generate spend and support employment and economic growth.” He said the SEC’s success is vital for Glasgow because the city centre retail and leisure sector supports more than 33,000 jobs and
The SEC is faced with four options: do nothing; maintain market share; go for an intermediate option or for
an ambitious one - the preferred option”
generates £5.46 billion per annum for the economy, and “we welcome the attraction of high value conference delegates and visitors”. Most Glaswegians have
now heard about the Finnieston “halo effect” with cafes, bars and restaurants, and that must be allowed to continue. It is noted that conference delegates account for one in five hotel beds sold in Glasgow, with business tourism worth more than £800 million to the Scottish economy, while the concert visitors contribute tens of millions and are now coming from all over the UK. The SEC, including the SSE Hydro, the SEC Armadillo and the SEC Centre, is recognised as Scotland’s major event campus for entertainment, conferences and exhibitions. It is the hot spot for the
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