Kelvin Hall awarded a five-star rating by VisitScotland

Glasgow’s iconic Kelvin Hall has been awarded a five-star rating from Scotland’s national tourism organisation. The much-loved venue, which is currently undergoing a multi-million pound refurbishment, received VisitScotland’s top Quality Assurance (QA) Scheme accolade in recognition of its exceptional customer service and high-quality facilities.

The project to renovate Kelvin Hall is being delivered in partnership by Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, the University of Glasgow, The Hunterian and the National Library of Scotland. The £35m first phase was completed at the end of 2016 and has breathed new life into the building; transforming it into a centre of cultural and sporting excellence, which attracts around 12,000 visitors each week. VisitScotland’s QA Scheme is the benchmark for quality across the country’s tourism industry and rewards accommodation providers, visitor attractions and food and drink sector operators.

Jim Clarkson, VisitScotland’s Regional Leadership Director, said: “Congratulations to Kelvin Hall for this outstanding achievement. An incredible amount of time, effort and investment has been put into improving the venue and it has certainly paid off. This accolade is testament to the hard work put in by the whole team and I am delighted to be presenting this well-deserved recognition.

“Our Quality Assurance Scheme is about more than just the ‘stars’ on the door, it is world-leading and provides a trusted, independent and impartial source of information for visitors. Delivering a quality experience that meets, and exceeds, visitor expectations is crucial in making Scotland a must-visit, must-return destination.”

Earlier this year, Kelvin Hall also received a Gold Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) – the largest eco-certification programme of its kind in the world – for its “highly impressive” commitment to sustainability and accessibility.

A number of other visitor attractions in Glasgow have also collected VisitScotland awards recently. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) and the Riverside Museum have each attained the national tourism organisation’s Taste Our Best Award; recognising their commitment to serving and promoting high-quality, locally-sourced produce.