SECC celebrates record C&I year

Editorial, 25 June 2007

Glasgow’s Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) has announced that the financial year 2006-7 was its best ever for conference sales. Some 52 events were staged, up from 50 in the preceding financial year, attended by 54,001 delegates and generating 245,077 delegate days – a 25% increase on 2005-6. “We’ve enjoyed an excellent year,” said SECC director of conferences Ben Goedegebuure. “Our staff are highly experienced and we’re also in the unique and fortunate position to have such a close working relationship with Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and other industries that support conferences in the city. It creates a cohesive partnership and it’s a proposition I believe is securing Glasgow’s position as one of the best conferences destinations in the world.” The corporate market witnessed the largest increase in both attendance and number of events held. A total of 29 events were staged, up from 21 in 2005–6. Association business meanwhile accounted for 21 events. While this was down from 23, delegate days grew by 20% to 219,837 and delegate numbers rose 26% to 43,216 year-on-year. The remaining two events were political and charity events, both of which also saw healthy increases in attendance according to Goedegebuure.