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‘But I would walk 500 miles, And I would walk 500 more…’20 Mar 2015
Actually, I didn’t walk 500 miles, but I near enough drove 500 miles, or rather 300 or so to glorious Glasgow! Zoe and I, from the Hospitality Guaranteed team, visited Scotland to discover Glasgow as a key location for conference, meeting and events. We started our excursion boarding a Discover Scotland Tour Bus, which was very authentic with the tour guy being Scottish born and bred, wearing a tartan kilt. The tour bus took us, from the Crowne Plaza Glasgow, on a lovely scenic route to Clachan Inn, which he described to us as being one of Scotland’s oldest ‘pubs’. Situated in the picturesque village of St. John’s Town of Dalry, we enjoyed some traditional pub grub, sipping real ale and craft beer by the log fire.
We then departed onto the Glengoyne Whisky Distillery, home to the slowest distillation process in Scotland. Even if you aren’t a true whisky fan (bonus if you are), the experience is unforgettable. It was interesting to see how six years are spent preparing the perfect oak casks before they even receive their first drop of spirit, making you realise why people appreciate Whisky- it really is worth the wait. We were told how the barley is dried by air, not peat, which means it doesn’t have a smokey flavour to the Whisky. After smelling the fumes through the fermentation process from the barley to the beer and finally distilling into the spirit, we were ready to sample some matured whisky. We tried 12, 18 and 21 year old whisky, complemented by a variety of chocolates before returning back to the hotel.
Located on the River Clyde, the Crowne Plaza Glasgow is set in the hub of an exciting entertainment and media area. The hotel isn’t far from Glasgow Airport and offers direct access to the SECC, Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, and is adjacent to the SSE Hydro. It’s the perfect location with conference resources onsite as well as surrounding facilities, giving you flexibility and something more unique. I especially like the panoramic views from the 15th floor, although heights don’t agree with me, the five second glimpse I managed to take was breath-taking.
We had pre-dinner cocktails and canapes in the Mezz Bar, which is situated above the restaurant and has access to the conference suites. The conference and meeting facilities are quite detached from the hotel, giving the sense of exclusivity, and if a large event was taking place, guests in the bedrooms are really remote and wouldn’t hear a thing. The function space is very diverse in the hotel being able to cater for up to 800 delegates in their largest suite, Argyll, as well as offering informal meeting space ideal for smaller functions.
Dinner was served in the relaxing atmosphere of the Mariner restaurant, surrounded by waves, which patterned the surrounding windows, to give the feeling of being close to the river. The restaurant is very much open plan so it could be packed full of people, but not seem like it is. The food was amazing! I especially enjoyed dessert- sticky toffee pudding!
The staff at the hotel were very helpful and polite from the moment we checked in. I would particularly like to mention the staff on reception when checking in as they left no stone unturned, answering questions before I had even asked them. I knew exactly where breakfast was served and at what times, I knew I had wifi and how to access it, and they even told me about the ‘special lift’. This is the lift to the far right of the reception desk and has a window where you can watch yourself climb each floor!
Now I’m sure you’re all wondering; how was my night’s sleep? To be honest, I never struggle getting a decent night’s sleep and I often find I have a better sleep when I stop in hotels, feeling more relaxed and chilled out. I love Crowne Plaza beds. They are so comfy and you get this little box that has a sleep spray for your pillow and a roll on for your pulse points to help you sleep- it sure is the little touches that make the biggest difference. I tend to say this all the time, however it just makes you feel more thought of and taken care of, especially if you’re a lone traveller.
Overall, Zoe and I had a brilliant weekend and really enjoyed experiencing Glasgow from a corporate perspective. Zoe took some amazing pictures and we would definitely recommend the hotel based on its key location and its onsite facilities being so flexible. Just to top it off, for corporate travellers there is also a gym and spa at the hotel!
Emma Hall