Glasgow Convention Bureau
Michael McGowan is an experienced professional in the events and business development sector, currently serving as the Convention Bureau Business Development Officer at Glasgow Convention Bureau since May 2024. Prior roles include Venue Sales Manager at BMA House from November 2019 to May 2024, and Sales and Marketing Manager at Prince Philip House from January 2019 to November 2019. Additionally, Michael has experience as Sales and Events Manager at G1 Group PLC, overseeing venues such as The Corinthian Club and Arta. A background in business development was established at the British Academy and Searcys, complemented by early experience as Conference and Events Sales Executive at Kensington Close Hotel. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Tourism and Travel Services Management from Sheffield Hallam University and a National Extended Diploma in Travel and Tourism from Cirencester College.
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Glasgow Convention Bureau
Glasgow is one of the world’s leading conference destinations, and today, business tourism contributes significantly to the city’s economy. Over 530 conferences were held in Glasgow in 2018/19, bringing nearly 160,000 delegates to the city, worth just over £150m in delegate spend. Glasgow Convention Bureau is the city’s primary point of contact for conference organisers, working with partners on more than 100 bids for major UK and international conferences each year. Glasgow Convention Bureau was named the UK’s Best Convention Bureau for a record breaking 14th consecutive year in 2020. Glasgow was awarded the title ahead of strong competition in a UK – wide pill conducted by the influential industry magazine, M&IT. Since first winning the M&IT title in 2007, the Bureau has worked with industry, academic, city and national partners to deliver over £1 billion worth of business to Glasgow. That equates to securing more than 3,500 domestic and international conferences, with some 1.3 million conference delegates having spent more than four million nights in the city’s hotels. A key component of Glasgow’s success is the growing strength of the city’s Conference Ambassador Programme. Managed by Glasgow Convention Bureau, the programme supports in excess of 1,600 influential ambassadors from the city’s academic, scientific, medical and business communities. 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of Glasgow’s Conference Ambassador Programme. In 2016, Glasgow became the first city in the UK to be included in a new sustainability ranking of international conference destinations – the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS_Index). Glasgow is currently ranked 4th in the world on the index.