This year presents a huge opportunity to promote Glasgow around the world and enhance the city's growing reputation even further.

Since the announcement that Glasgow would host the Commonwealth Games, an enormous amount of work has gone on to ensure the venues are ready and prepared for a truly international event never before seen in the city.

At the same time ,other inter-national events have been attracted to Glasgow, with the new sporting arenas allowing other events to be staged here including the MTV Europe awards this year as well the Turner Prize next year.In recent years, the city has made a great success of attracting conference businesses to Glasgow and, with a potential 1.5bn television audience for the Games, there is an opportunity to reach even more people.

All the signs are 2014 will be a roaring success with the whole country excited about the event, and visitors can be assured of a warm welcome.

The challenge is to make sure those people spread the word about their experience and come back again and again.

People in Glasgow know how much the city has to offer and this year we can show the world and be prepared to welcome even more year by year for decades to come.