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[Scotguy]

Glasgow hotel bookings 'at 10-year high'
The survey covered 31 hotels in GlasgowHotel bookings in Glasgow are at their highest level in a decade despite the economic downturn, a survey suggests.

The Lynn Jones Forecaster report looked at occupancy rates in 31 city hotels to September this year.

It found there was a 6% rise on the same period last year and a 16% increase compared to September 2000.

The figures are being out down to Glasgow hosting three major events - the Papal visit, the World Parkinson Congress and a P.Diddy concert.

The report also found that rates for revenue per room increased.

It said Glasgow's yields had increased by more than 15% over a 12-month period, to an average of £64.61 compared to £54.65 in September last year.

Scott Taylor, chief executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: "It is testament to Glasgow's strength and appeal, both as a leading short-break destination and as a host city for major events and international conferences, that while many other cities are seeing a drop in visitor numbers, Glasgow is more than holding its own and our visitor numbers are at an all-time high.

"The opening, next year, of our iconic Riverside Museum - the city's newest world-class visitor attraction - combined with the new infrastructure that will be in place for Glasgow's hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2014, will provide the city with even greater collateral to attract additional tourism and inward investment in the years to come."

[Scotguy]

A Scottish pensioner who is one of the country's top judo experts is to be honoured by the Emperor of Japan.

George Kerr, 73, has said he is "thrilled to bits" after learning he is to receive the Order of the Rising Sun, one of Japan's highest awards.

The honour recognises Mr Kerr's contribution to the sport and to UK-Japanese relations.

Mr Kerr, from Edinburgh, achieved Judo's 10th Dan in February, a title held by only five other people.

Speaking about being given the Order of the Rising Sun, Mr Kerr said: "Of course, I'm thrilled to bits, it's quite an honour. I think I'm the first judo player in Great Britain to receive this sort of thing, so it's really nice.

"It's been a brilliant year. It's blown me away. The whole thing's been like a fairytale to be honest."

The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette was announced in Emperor Akihito's November honours list.

Mr Kerr, who runs a judo club for youngsters in Edinburgh, said the honour would be presented to him formally at the home of the Japanese Consul-General, Masataka Tarahara, in January.

'Outstanding contribution'Other famous names awarded the Order of the Rising Sun include movie legend Clint Eastwood.

Mr Kerr said: "I was quite pleased that one of my heroes, Clint Eastwood, has got it as well. He does portray the kind of values that I stand for."

In a statement issued by the Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh, Mr Tarahara said: "He is the most deserving recipient whose contribution to the promotion of judo over many decades has been outstanding."

Mr Kerr began practising judo when he was eight, won a scholarship to study judo in Japan and won the gold medal in the 1957 European Championships.

[Scotguy]

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee to Move to Refurbished Tontine Building in Merchant City

Glasgow 2014, the Organising Committee for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, will next year move to new premises in the Tontine Building in the Merchant City area.

Glasgow 2014 have selected Tontine House as their preferred new site as they establish a new headquarters for the next four years and see the workforce increase to 1000.

Up to 100 Commonwealth Apprentices will work on the refurbishment project.

Tontine House will become a key ‘non-competition’ venue during the Games. The move to the Albion Street frontage of the Tontine building from the current offices at Monteith House in George Square is expected to take place towards the end of 2011.

The building - where Glasgow 2014 will occupy in excess of 108,000 sq ft - will be fully redeveloped to ensure it is fit for purpose.

Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for Commonwealth Games delivery at Glasgow City Council, said: “The Tontine Building will be the perfect new home for Glasgow 2014, providing a gateway to the East End and bringing yet more new life to the Merchant City. This will be one of the most important centres for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and it essential that the right space is found. After the Games, this building will leave a tremendous economic legacy for the city in the form of high-quality, high-profile office space in a fantastic location.”

Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive John Scott said: “We are delighted that Glasgow City Council was able to provide a solution within the city that would leave a positive legacy once the Games have finished. We are really excited about the move, as our organisation expands from the current 30 staff to 1000.”

The Tontine Building sits on the north-west corner of Glasgow Cross, and is one of the most important buildings - in terms of architectural quality, scale in location - in the Merchant City. The building is listed.

The refurbishment work will be carried out by City Building LLP. City Building will carry out the refurbishment as a Commonwealth Apprenticeship project, with up to 100 apprentices working on the project.

Facilitating this important development has been City Property (Glasgow) LLP, an arms length company formed by Glasgow City Council to efficiently and effectively deliver to the market a wide range of exciting property opportunities and enhance its extensive commercial portfolio.

Since it was formed in 2009 City Property has been identifying how, in the present economic climate, they can introduce new ways to sustain and kick start development within the city. As owners of the Tontine building, this is a shinning example of that advanced thinking.




Going for Green at Glasgow 2014
Glasgow 2014, Glasgow City Council and Scottish Government are holding a sustainability conference today (Friday) and have announced that they will aim to recycle or reuse at least 80% of waste that is produced during the 11 days of competition for the Commonwealth Games.

The announcement was made as the Partners set out a joint ambition to “Go for Green” at Glasgow 2014. To mark the official start of this joint ambition, a short new animated film has been launched to illustrate the opportunities that all the Games Partners plan to take up over the next three and a half years. You can view the film here.

The Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee and Games Partners aim to ensure that good standards of sustainability are met environmentally, economically and socially. Good standards of sustainability will be met environmentally in the following ways:

- Remediation of contaminated land: All new venues will have had the land decontaminated and cleaned before building began.

- Upgrading existing stadia and building in legacy: Instead of building a new stadium, we are converting Hampden Park from a national football stadium into a world class athletics facility, reducing the impact upon the environment by transforming an existing facility as opposed to starting from scratch. The SECC will also be completely transformed from an exhibition centre into a sports venue.

- A sustainable energy Centre will be built for the Athletes’ Village. The NISA and Velodrome will be retro-fitted to it once it is available.

- Spectators will have free public transport within Glasgow with their sports tickets, reducing the amount of carbon emissions used by encouraging people to travel using sustainable transport.


Glasgow 2014 and the Games Partners have made a commitment to delivering good standards of sustainability through good economy:

- Low carbon housing: houses in the Athletes’ Village will be built using sustainable materials These 750 homes within the Athletes' Village will produce 60% less carbon by cutting energy demand as a result of being well insulated and airtight.

• - Procurement: Glasgow 2014 is using a web portal for the procurement of goods, services and works of all types and values. This transparent tool will ensure that the organisers get the best value from the market.

Finally, ensuring that sustainability has a strong social aspect is crucial to delivering an outstanding Games with a positive legacy for people. The Athletes’ Village will be built on a previously rundown 50-acre site bounded by London Road, the River Clyde, Springfield Road and Dalmarnock Road. It will feature 758 houses and flats, and a 120-bed care home. This new community will transform the east end of Glasgow.

Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive John Scott said:

“Sustainability is crucial to staging an outstanding Games – we think it’s imperative that we act responsibly at every stage of the Games process, and part of that is ensuring that we act in the most beneficial way possible for the environment, in an economical way, that is in the best interests of local people in the long term.

“Glasgow in Gaelic translates as “Dear Green Place”, and that is exactly what we’re aiming for in 2014.”

Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, said:

“We are confident that the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will be the greenest ever. Some of the venues being built for the Games and the Athletes’ Village are going to use the latest ideas in reducing carbon and will be a strong indication of Glasgow’s approach to addressing climate change.
“The Games will leave the city an environmental and sustainable legacy, including improved land and air quality and innovative approaches to energy use and recycling.”

Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, said:

"The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that environmental and sustainability issues are factored into all aspects of Glasgow 2014. This event will provide many Scots with the opportunity to live and travel more sustainably.

[Scotguy]

Good news showing Glasgow is against racism

Trade unionists, politicians and faith and community groups will gather in Glasgow later for an annual march and rally against racism.

The St Andrew's Day anti-racism event has been organised by the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC).

Organisers said it would remind people in difficult economic times of the dangers of allowing prejudice and discrimination to go unchallenged.

The march will start from St Andrew's in the Square at 1100 GMT.

Those taking part will rally at the Glasgow Film Theatre on Rose Street at noon.

Speakers will include Prof Geoffrey Palmer of Edinburgh and Lothians Racial Equality Council and human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar.

Speaking ahead of the rally, Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray called on every Scot to "challenge racism wherever it surfaces".

He added: "We can use the law but that is not enough. It is up to all of us to confront it in everyday life - in the workplace, in the playground, at a football stadium or when with friends and neighbours.

"That's why the STUC's annual St Andrew's Day event is so important."

[Scotguy]

Glasgow has been named Curry Capital of Britain for a record fourth time in the past 10 years.

It fought off competition from 11 other UK cities to take the title which was being run during National Curry Week.

Glasgow City Council submitted an entry with four local restaurants. They were judged top in areas such as standards of food, service and cleanliness.

Glasgow was represented in the final by Balbir's, KoolBa, Mister Singh's India and Mother India café.

Lord provost Bob Winter said: "I am delighted the title is coming back to Glasgow where it belongs. It's wonderful news.

"Winning the Curry Capital of Britain title this year is very much down to our four chosen ambassadors. They do our city proud."

Members of the public were asked to vote for their favourite Indian restaurant and of the 66 Glasgow restaurants to receive a nomination, Balbir's, KoolBa, Mister Singh's India and Mother India Café secured the most.

They went on to impress the judges with their innovative dishes, first class service and "incredible fundraising".

Glasgow won the Curry Capital of Britain title in 2002, 2003 and 2006. It was runner up in 2004, 2005 and 2007.

This year Bradford came second with Wolverhampton in third place.

[Scotguy]

Construction complete on new £74m Riverside Museum
The museum is scheduled to open in late Spring 2011Continue reading the main story
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The keys to Glasgow's new Riverside Museum have been handed over to the city council now that construction work on the £74m venue has been completed.

The museum, on the banks of the River Clyde, will house the city's valuable transport collection which was on display at the Kelvin Hall until April.

Larger exhibits have already been put in place. Now work will start to install the remaining 3,000 objects.

The museum is scheduled to open in late Spring 2011.

Building contractor BAM began construction on the complex, designed by Stirling Prize-winner Zaha Hadid, in 2007.

The building was formally handed over to Glasgow Museums staff on Tuesday.

Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote

With the Tall Ship Glenlee berthed alongside, the Riverside Museum is certain to become an iconic image of Glasgow”

Gordon MathesonGlasgow City Council leaderBAM is expected to remain on site for a few more weeks, with only landscaping, the south façade and some snagging to finish.

Larger transport objects, such as subway cars, locomotives and trams, have already been installed to the museum.

Smaller objects, such as cars, bikes, motorbikes and ship models, will now be transferred from the Kelvin Hall, where they have been under wraps since April.

Glasgow City Council leader, Gordon Matheson, said: "The building itself is a feat of engineering, and BAM has done a fantastic job turning Zaha Hadid's ambitious design into what I'm sure will become one of the city's most recognisable and popular buildings."

"With the Tall Ship Glenlee berthed alongside, the Riverside Museum is certain to become an iconic image of Glasgow.

"It represents the city's rich and proud heritage as well as its ambitions and potential for the future."

The bulk of funding for the Riverside Museum has already been committed by Glasgow City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

An on-going appeal to raise the remaining £5m is close to 80% of its target.

[LuigiVercotti]

Curry capital...impressive new museum...home town of the Big Yin...is there anything Glasgae canna nae do?

Roll on 2014!

[Scotguy]

Happy New Year form the host city of Commonwealth Games 2014

[Sir Rols]

Happy Hogmanay!

[Scotguy]

THe Velodrome: