Glasgow City Marketing Bureau

Glasgow: Scotland with style

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) coined the phrase Glasgow: Scotland with style which has been seen everywhere from a hot air balloon to a yacht which took part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 07-08.

Glasgow's Tourism Strategy to 2016

In 2005, tourism to Glasgow was estimated at 2.8 million visitors spending £700m. Co-authors, with Glasgow City Council, Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland, GCMB published a strategy to develop the level of tourist revenue by a minimum of 60% over a decade, welcomng four million tourists to the city every year by 2016. In order to achieve this target, a major events strategy has been put together which includes the Commonwealth Games 2014, Arena at the Scottish Exhibitions and Conference Centre (SECC) and a new Riverside Museum designed by Zaha Hadid. Increased investment in the brand Glasgow: Scotland with style is also key to the strategy.

Hoping to capitalise on Glasgow's changing labour market, the strategy proposes to develop 'a service excellence culture across all aspects of the tourist experience.' In describing its product (Glasgow), the strategy draws attention to the city's potential for shopping, conferences and events. It namechecks Culture and Sport Glasgow for delivering the events that draws cultural tourists to contribute £503.6m to the city's economy, with particular reference to Kelvingrove Museum and Trongate 103, the arts complex being renovated/branded as part of the redevelopment of Merchant City.

The group steering this strategy benefits from input by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and dovetails closely with plans for economic development in the city.