Medical Conference Delivers £6.3 million Boost for Glasgow Economy
Glasgow’s economy will get a £6.3 million boost this weekend as the city hosts its biggest conference of the year.
Around 6,000 delegates are expected for the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Congress, which runs from tomorrow (July 15) until July 18 at the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC).
It is the second time Glasgow will host the prestigious meeting after successfully holding the conference in 1993.
The meeting represents another success for Glasgow City Marketing Bureau’s (GCMB) Conference Ambassador Programme, a free service assisting academics, scientists, medics and business people who are thinking about bringing a conference to the city.
Since 2003, Ambassador Programme staff have helped Dr Jonathan Fox, Consultant Nephrologist at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and Dr Colin Geddes, Consultant Nephrologist at the Western Infirmary, to prepare and bid successfully for the conference. Dr Rajan Madhok, Consultant Physician and Rheumatologist at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, played a key role in identifying local experts to assist in the bid.
Scott Taylor, chief executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “This is the city’s biggest conference of the year and we look forward to these delegates experiencing Glasgow: Scotland with style.
“ERA-EDTA reinforces Glasgow’s credentials as a premier destination for medical conferences. It is also another example of how our successful Ambassador Programme is assisting professionals win these major meetings for Glasgow, which contribute so much to the city economy.”
Dr Fox, the president of this year’s ERA-EDTA Congress, said: “I have been very pleased with all the help I have received from the Ambassador Programme and the staff at GCMB, which gave Glasgow the competitive edge over its rivals.
“I have also been impressed by the way SECC has organised the event and I am grateful to the Lord Provost’s Office for hosting our civic dinner.”
As a thank-you to the conference organisers for choosing Glasgow, the Deputy Lord Provost Christine Devine is hosting a civic dinner for around 200 delegates in the City Chambers on Monday night.
In the past month, members of the Ambassador Programme have won conferences worth £2.25 million for the city: The World Hydrogen Technologies Convention (WHTC - 1V) in 2011, and the European Academy of Forensic Science in 2009.
Ben Goedegebuure, director of conferences at the SECC, said: “Securing a major conference is tough and it’s not every destination that has an initiative like the Ambassador Programme to help the process. As a venue, we really appreciate the important role the Ambassador Programme plays in bringing international conferences to the city.”
ENDS
Further information from:
Caroline Gray
Public Relations
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
Email: caroline.gray@seeglasgow.com
Tel: +44 (0) 141 566 0832 Fax: +44 (0) 141 566 0855
(or)
Stephen Breen
Ambassador Programme Public Relations
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
Tel: +44 (0) 141 566 0833 Fax: +44 (0) 141 566 0855
Email: stephen.breen@seeglasgow.com
Note to editors:
1. Established in 1990, the Glasgow Conference Ambassador Programme was the first of its kind in the UK. There are more than 2,000 members and in 2004/2005 local Ambassadors helped secure 53 conferences for the city, representing £23 million in local economic benefit or 39% of total convention sales for the year.
2. The Glasgow Conference Ambassador Programme is run by the Convention Bureau within Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and is a free service assisting academics, scientists, medics and business people who are thinking about bringing a conference to the city. Staff at the Programme can help with preparing the conference bids through to help with arranging venues, hotel accommodation and entertainment, and can apply for a civic reception.
The Ambassador Programme is supported by Scottish Enterprise Glasgow and Glasgow City Council
3. For more information about the ERA-EDTA conference, see www.eraedta2006.org