Glasgow Chamber Of Commerce

Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Councillor Gordon Matheson, was joined by seven of Glasgow's leading retailers in the heart of the city's style mile today (16th November) to officially launch the Glasgow Loves Christmas campaign for 2011.
 
Glasgow Loves Christmas is the city's annual festive campaign - a private/public partnership comprising Glasgow City Council, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and Glasgow Life together with the Greater Glasgow Hotels Association, Glasgow Restaurant Association and seven of the style mile's major retailers - the biggest number of partners to date.
 
Councillor Matheson teamed up with representatives from the campaign's retail partners: Argyll Arcade, Buchanan Galleries, Frasers, John Lewis, Princes Square and St Enoch plus one of Santa's elves from Hamleys as they brought festive cheer to shoppers on Buchanan Street. 
 
Glasgow Loves Christmas promotes the style mile's unrivalled retail offering and vibrant seasonal events and entertainment programme that also includes Glasgow on Ice on George Square.
 
The national media campaign to encourage shoppers during the crucial festive trading period is also underway incorporating TV, radio, outdoor and digital. 
 
Complementing this activity is the new Glasgow Loves Christmas app for iPhone and Android, which is free-to-download from the website www.glasgowloveschristmas.com and offers real time information on where to shop, opening times, what to see and do, how to get around, parking, where to eat, special deals and much more.
 
Stylish shopping, superb eating and drinking and a jam-packed events programme against a city centre backdrop of glittering festive lights make Glasgow a magical place to be this yuletide. 
 
The illumination of the style mile on the 24th November will include fire related performances at three different locations with a finale taking place on Argyle Street.  This will herald the beginning of five weeks of Christmas entertainment on the style mile on Thursdays, which will see brass bands and choirs adding to the festive atmosphere.
 
Families and festive revellers can also get their skates on in George Square from 26th November when Glasgow on Ice opens; enjoy Shindig on the 26th and 27th November; the St Andrew's Day Concert on the 30th and continue the celebrations with festive events on every day through to and including Christmas Eve and, for the first time, a family celebration from 12 noon until 10pm on Hogmanay with traditional music, activities for the kids and the best of Scottish food and drink on offer.
 
Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: "With more partners joining the campaign this year, an ever strengthening retail offering and more choice than rival destinations Glasgow really does offer something for everyone during this vital trading period. 
 
"Christmas in Glasgow this year promises to be the most exciting yet - with attractions and events spanning music, film, food and drink, dancing and family entertainment, not to mention the best shopping experience in the UK outside London's West End.   There is simply no better place than Glasgow to be this festive season." 
 
Kim Lowe, Chair of the style mile, commented: "The style mile will be an exciting hub of activity throughout the Christmas shopping period and we are looking forward to working with our retail, leisure and hospitality partners to deliver an outstanding festive experience for locals and visitors alike at this commercially important time. 
 
"With over 1,500 shops to choose from in the city and some of the UK's most in-demand retailers in the heart of the style mile Christmas shoppers will be spoilt for choice."
 
As well as extended festive opening hours, all day car parking will also be available on Sundays in Concert Square, Cambridge and Charing Cross Car Park for £2.50.  Shoppers can also park in High Street or Dundasvale Car Park on Sundays for £2.00 all day. 
 
Families travelling into the city to take part in the festive fun from 23rd December - 8th January can keep travel costs down with SPT's 'Kids Go Free' offer where children go free on the Glasgow Subway (up to two children with every one adult travelling).  Scotrail also operate a year-round Kids Go Free scheme where two children can travel off-peak with an accompanying adult.
 
For more information on how to make the most of your Christmas shopping in Glasgow or to download the free Glasgow Loves Christmas app for iPhone and Android visit: www.glasgowloveschristmas.com
 
For more information on car parking during the festive period visit: www.cityparkingglasgow.co.uk