Spotlight On: Aileen Crawford

How long have you worked for your company?

I have worked for the Glasgow Convention Bureau in a variety of roles since 1999.

What brought you to Glasgow or your current role?

I moved to Glasgow from Kirkcudbright in Dumfries & Galloway to study English and History at The University of Glasgow and never left! Following a sales role at Glasgow Museums, where I had the honour of promoting the city’s iconic civic museum venues for events, I moved to the Convention Bureau where I held a variety of sales positions. In 2016 I became the Head of the Convention Bureau. Five years ago, I took Tourism into my remit to support the successful delivery of the city’s Tourism Strategy 2030.

In a few sentences, please tell us about your organisation and your current role.

The role of Glasgow Convention Bureau, at Destination Glasgow is to work in partnership with industry, academia and the Business Events sector to attract conferences that deliver economic, academic and reputational benefits to Glasgow.

My role focuses on supporting the team to secure high-value Business Events, develop strategic partnerships and ensure Glasgow remains a competitive, sustainable and inclusive destination for conference organisers from around the world.

Glasgow hosts more international delegates than any other UK city, outside London because of the excellent facilities on offer here, our academic excellence and the strategic focus Glasgow has had on securing Business Events for the last 40 years.

In a few sentences, tell us why you love Glasgow.

Glasgow is recognised both nationally and internationally as a successful and memorable Business Events destination because of the positive Team Glasgow approach that delegates and conference organisers appreciate. The People Make Glasgow city brand is often cited by our clients as the most authentic and true representation of any city they have visited. The warmth of the welcome and the city’s can-do attitude makes Glasgow stand out!

If you have ever interacted with or had support from Invest Glasgow or Business Glasgow, please describe your experience in a few or sentences.

With the launch of Destination Glasgow, colleagues at Invest Glasgow are now very much part of the Destination Glasgow family; promoting Glasgow to the world!