The AC Hotel Glasgow – which celebrated its first birthday in October last year – has become an important addition to the Glasgow City Innovation District, welcoming more than 85,000 guests in its first year alone as the city’s conferencing and events industry thrives.
Ideally positioned on the corner of George Street and John Street, the 245-room hotel combines sleek modern design with the historical elegance of a carefully restored 120-year-old Victorian Parish Hall.
Eye-catching period features including a grand stone staircase, ornate cornicing, and a stunning stained-glass window featuring Glasgow’s coat of arms have been meticulously restored and preserved – creating a blend of old and new that reflects the city’s architectural heritage and symbolic of innovation in the city.
The AC Hotel is a key component of the £100 million Love Loan development, which is transforming an entire block near George Square into a vibrant hub of leisure and residential activity, complete with bars, restaurants, and wellness facilities. The project has also seen the successful launch of Flight Club, an interactive darts venue and bar/restaurant.
The hotel’s 100-seater restaurant, Hazel, offers a calming retreat from the busy city centre. Its design – centred around a life-sized hazel tree – nods to the city of Glasgow’s coat of arms with touches including lighting featuring the birds and bells central to the legend of St Mungo.
The hotel's modern workspaces and library, as well as a self-service business centre and collaborative areas have proved a draw to delegates attending events including Glasgow Tech Week. The hotel’s location, benefits from being in the Innovation District and close to the Technology & Innovation Centre and Glasgow Queen Street station, making it an attractive choice for international visitors and conference attendees.
Craig Munro, General Manager at AC Hotel Glasgow, highlighted the impact of Glasgow’s thriving tech and innovation sector on the city’s meetings and events industry.
He said: “Glasgow is back in the international spotlight thanks to a thriving meetings and events industry, and world-class tech and innovation is a massive part of that.
“We have welcomed delegates from around the world who are coming to Glasgow to take part in international conferences and events at venues including the SEC, Hydro, and the University of Strathclyde. Tech and innovation in Glasgow is one of the driving forces behind that sector, and that in turn fuels the city’s hospitality industry. It’s all part of the proposition that is helping Glasgow attract some of the biggest events in the world, and the audiences they bring.”
Ingraining AC Hotel into the community has been another important factor in its success, with partnerships with Glasgow-based brands like Crossbill Gin, West Brewery, and Rapscallion showcasing the best the city has to offer to guests. Collaborations with local firms such as PR firm Story Shop – also based in the Innovation District – have further cemented its role in the city.
Glasgow City Innovation District Director, Alisdair Gunn, said: “The AC Hotel Glasgow reflects the city’s innovation but also plays a pivotal role in supporting its growth, making it a key player in Glasgow’s ever-evolving hospitality landscape.”