THE marketing team which brings big money conferences to Glasgow is the best in the business after taking a top title for the seventh year in a row.

The staff, who have helped inject almost £1 billion into the city's economy, have been named as the UK's Best Convention Bureau.

It was the seventh consecutive win for Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, who saw off city rivals and tourist organisations such as London, Liverpool, Manchester and VisitScotland to claim the top prize.

No other organisation has ever picked up the title seven times.

The historic win was achieved by Glasgow's marketing gurus after they came top in an international poll by the influential industry magazine Meetings & Incentive Travel (M&IT).

More than 3000 professionals took part in the vote, which has delighted Gordon Matheson.

The leader of Glasgow City Council and chairman of the marketing bureau, said: "Winning this award seven times is nothing short of remarkable and underpins exactly why we are now the UK's conference capital.

"This award, the industry's 'gold standard', is testimony to the excellent partnership working that exists between the different partners across our conventions sector.

The city's marketing men and women have helped bring £975 million worth of business to Glasgow, accounting for more than 3m hotel room bookings by delegates.

Today conference delegates account for one in five hotel beds sold in the city.

Denis MacCann, general manager of the city's Hotel Indigo and also co-chairman of the Greater Glasgow Hotels Association (GGHA), said: "This is a stunning endorsement of Glasgow's meetings industry and underlines the city's status as a leader and innovator in business tourism both domestically and internationally."

Ryan James, chairman of the Glasgow Restaurant Association, added: "This win demonstrates that conference planners are continuing to give a resounding vote of confidence to Glasgow's offering of fantastic meetings facilities, great transport links and a wide range of first-class restaurants and hotels to meet all budgets.

"We all recognise and understand the merits of working together to present a united product to conference organisers."

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk