Home NEWS Glasgow Convention Bureau launches a major new initiative

Glasgow Convention Bureau launches a major new initiative

The initiative consolidates Glasgow Convention Bureau’s existing philosophy

Mar 9, 2026

glasgow_scotland — Photo: Glasgow Convention Bureau

Glasgow Convention Bureau launched a major new initiative designed to help conference organisers and delegates deliver meaningful social and environmental impact when meeting in the city.

Unveiled at the 2026 SCOTO Conference, the first time the Scottish Community Tourism Conference has been hosted in an urban location, In Glasgow, Meetings Mean More brings together the city’s social and environmental impact services under one clear framework, making it easier for planners to embed responsible and regenerative principles into their events.

The initiative consolidates Glasgow Convention Bureau’s existing support around sustainability, legacy and community engagement into four connected pillars: Sustainable, Impactful, Equitable and Socially Responsible. Through the programme, organisers can access UN Sustainable Development Goal workshops, guidance on greener delegate choices, connections to local charities and social enterprises, and support from the Glasgow Conference Impact Network to develop positive legacy activity linked to their event.

New Community and Social Enterprise Map

A new Community and Social Enterprise Map has been developed to help delegates identify local organisations, tours, venues and suppliers whose income directly supports community initiatives. By signposting delegates to purpose-led enterprises during their free time, the initiative encourages delegates to spend their time supporting enterprises whose main aim is community benefit rather than an economic one.

Carron Tobin, Executive Director of the Scottish Community Tourism Network, said: “SCOTO’s ambition is to recalibrate tourism to deliver for Scotland’s communities and our environment first and foremost. This vision is as important to urban communities as it is to rural communities, so we were delighted when the team in Glasgow suggested hosting our first urban SCOTO Conference in March 2026. SCOTO delegates benefitted from a day of Learning Exchanges, visiting inspirational Glasgow-based charities and social enterprises that do good in their community by benefiting from the visitor or delegate, as well as local spend.”

“The In Glasgow Meetings Mean More initiative is a great and practical example of where the Glasgow Convention Bureau is helping delegates find a local enterprise in their free time; for city tours, refreshments, or locally made gifts, knowing these purchases directly support the community that the local enterprises are helping.”

Aileen Crawford, Head of Tourism & Conventions at Glasgow Convention Bureau, added: “The Scottish Community Tourism Conference is the ideal place to launch the In Glasgow, Meetings Mean More initiative. As the first urban location to host a Community Tourism conference, the Glasgow Convention Bureau were keen to embrace the ethos of community tourism by guiding delegates to spend with local enterprises that have a mission to do good in their community.”

Among the organisations featured is the National Piping Centre, an internationally recognised charity and cultural venue in the heart of Glasgow. Natalie Johnston, General Manager of The National Piping Centre, said: “As a charity, The National Piping Centre exists to enrich lives through piping by preserving Scotland’s musical heritage while ensuring access to education and cultural expression for people of all backgrounds. Income generated through our venue, learning programmes and visitor experiences is reinvested into community outreach, youth education and widening participation, helping future generations engage with piping and Scotland’s cultural traditions.”

Glasgow has built a strong international reputation for delivering conference legacy and measurable impact through partnership with academia, charities, venues and government. By presenting its impact support under a single, client-facing framework, Glasgow Convention Bureau aims to make it easier for organisers to align their events with organisational values around sustainability, equity and social responsibility, while delivering tangible benefits to the host destination.

Further information on embedding social and environmental impact into conferences hosted in Glasgow is available via the Glasgow Convention Bureau here.