01 Sep 2026
A new organisation which will serve as Glasgow’s voice to the world and boost the city’s global visibility has been launched.
Destination Glasgow brings together expertise from across investment, the conventions sector, tourism and marketing to boost how the city is internationally promoted and positioned.
As Glasgow’s destination management and marketing organisation (DMMO), it will make sure that the city competes on the world stage with a personality that is distinct, authentic and compelling.
Destination Glasgow will work across the city’s flourishing partnerships in industry, universities and colleges, cultural organisations, and public bodies to boost Glasgow’s international reputation and project its world-class economic, cultural and visitor assets.
As the organisation launches, businesses and residents have been invited to share their views on Glasgow and the wider city region.
The findings from the Glasgow Insights survey will inform the promotion of the city’s strengths, while identifying opportunities to better communicate its ambitions and opportunities.
Around 300 leaders and partners from across business, investment, tourism, education, culture and government gathered at the Glasgow Science Centre for today’s official launch.
Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council
“Glasgow is once again changing. Destination Glasgow is about making sure that the story of that change and our city’s successes are reaching the right audiences - across Scotland and across the world.
“We already have a powerful identity, world-class assets and an incredible range of stories to tell.
“Destination Glasgow gives us an opportunity to showcase our strengths more effectively, while keeping the authenticity, creativity and personality that make Glasgow distinctive.
“More opportunities mean better life chances, growth and prosperity. We’ll help ensure that a greater global profile translates as real benefits for this city and its people.”
Destination Glasgow launches as the city’s strengths continue to grow.
The city is recognised as Europe’s leading large city for foreign direct investment strategy, attracting around £500 million in FDI during 2025.
In the last financial year, Glasgow hosted 530 conferences, welcoming 168,000 delegates and generating £207 million for the city economy.
And in 2025, 31.5 million visitors came to Glasgow, generating £2.74 billion in direct visitor expenditure and supporting more than 41,000 jobs.
Destination Glasgow will build on that momentum, ensuring the city is firmly in the conversations when decisions are being taken on investment, events, talent and visitors.
In addition, once the responses to the Glasgow Insight, survey have been properly evaluated, Destination Glasgow will work with partners to shape a shared story for the city, champion Glasgow’s successes and ensure its strengths reach the right audiences locally, nationally and internationally.
Stuart Patrick CBE, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce said: “The launch of Destination Glasgow is a welcome step forward for the city and reflects a long-standing priority for Glasgow’s business community to tell our economic story more clearly and confidently to the world.
“Recent reports show a gap between what investors understand about our city and the scale of the opportunity here. Bringing together our investment, conventions, tourism and marketing expertise into a single body gives us an opportunity to bridge that gap, attract more investment and create new jobs.
“The Glasgow City Region has world-class sector expertise, and we must now turn those strengths into a stronger international narrative that supports the work of the Glasgow Economic Leadership Board to grow our high-growth sectors and allow the city to flourish.”
Kevin Rush, Director of Regional Economic Growth at Glasgow City Council
“This really is a hugely important moment for Glasgow. A real game changer.
“Destination Glasgow will make sure the world knows more of our successes and stories, our attributes and our assets. It will showcase Glasgow to new audiences and new markets. That’s something all of us – our businesses, our staff, our citizens – will benefit from.
“We will work closely with partners across the city region, giving them the content, tools and support to take Glasgow’s story to audiences at home and around the world.”
The launch marks the beginning of Destination Glasgow’s first three-year programme of work.
As a DMMO, Destination Glasgow will also bring partners together on the longer-term development of Glasgow as a place to invest, hold conventions and visit, with a focus on sustainable growth and creating value for the people and businesses of the city.
