11
Scotland
Banking on the Clyde
for conferencing
Case study:
Dyalog
Client: Software organisation,
Dyalog
Venue: The Golden Jubilee
Conference Hotel, Glasgow
Event: Five-day conference
When: 13-16 October 2016
Delegates: 121 from 15
countries
“There is a perception that we are too far north,
yet delegates can often get here more quickly
than battling traffic congestion in the south ”
y 2020, the Golden
Jubilee Conference
Hotel, in Clydebank,
near Glasgow, aims to
have 60% of its meetings
business from medical and
healthcare related clients.
The meetings and events
strategy involves the hotel’s
team working closely with
clinicians in the adjoining Golden
Jubilee National Hospital to
attract medical associations.
The hotel boasts a new
Inspiration Space for meetings
and director Bronagh Bell lays
out reasons organisers should
consider the wider region for
their big event.
She says delegate rates in
Scotland have remained fairly
unchanged for 10 years, “so
customers are now getting a lot
more value for money” and
highlights Scotland’s direct rail
and air links to other major UK
cities via Glasgow, Edinburgh
and Aberdeen.
The country, she adds, also
has excellent air links to the big
hubs in Dubai and Schiphol,
which can be easier to get
through than Heathrow, while
the Scottish Government has
committed to reducing Air
Passenger Duty by 50%.
“There is a perception that we
are too far north, yet delegates
can often get here more quickly
by plane or train than battling
the traffic congestion in the
south,” says Bell.
The big draw compared to
other regions, she says, is that
organisers can give delegates
what feels like an international
experience by weaving in
elements of Scottish culture.
“Whether it is enjoying our
national drink with a specialist
tasting, teambuilding over a
round of golf, hosting a Burns
Supper or having a wild time at a
Scottish Ceilidih, there is an
endless range of activities to
enjoy,” Bell notes and argues
that, with a weak pound, and
Eurozone destinations becoming
relatively dearer, Scotland can
be an excellent option. CN
It was the first time the event
was held in Scotland. Dyalog’s
main requirements were:
• A tiered auditorium with first
class AV equipment and Wi-Fi
• Opportunities for delegate
networking and socialising
• A variety of meeting rooms
• Exceptional service
• Great food and beverage
• Comfortable bedrooms
in-house for all delegates
• Proximity to an international
airport and good travel links.
Dyalog used the 174-seat
auditorium for the main
plenary and other rooms for
the workshops. The Central
Plaza hosted the networking,
while socialising took place in
the bar and lounge areas in
the evenings. There was a
Scottish themed banquet and
a whisky tasting courtesy of
Glengoyne Distillery.
Dyalog’s conference
organiser said they had looked
at universities, but the ones
that had been looked at had
not offered a high enough
standard of bedrooms or F&B.
“We were looking all over the
UK, but given our budget and
the services on offer, the
Golden Jubilee Conference
Hotel was very reasonable. It
was within easy reach of major
tourist attractions, Glasgow
Airport and the city centre with
good transport connections.”
www.conference-news.co.uk
CN-Dec016-Scotland.indd 11
16/11/2016 12:56