Famous Glasgow hotel that hosted The Beatles and John F Kennedy wins prestigious award

voco Grand Central Hotel, located directly beside Glasgow Central Station, received the accolade at the 32nd Annual World Travel Awards, recognising excellence in conference facilities, service, and overall guest experience.

The World Travel Awards acknowledges, rewards and celebrates excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.

Marcello Ventisei, Hotel Manager at voco Grand Central Hotel, said: “This award is a true testament to the passion and dedication of our incredible team. They work tirelessly to ensure every conference and event runs seamlessly, while helping our clients bring their vision to life.

“We have invested significantly in creating exceptional spaces that honour the rich history of this iconic hotel, while offering all the modern amenities today’s events demand.

“With our unrivalled location adjoining Glasgow Central Station, guests can travel with ease from across the UK, and our art deco interiors and grand architecture provide a truly unforgettable atmosphere.”

In 2025, the hotel hosted conference and banqueting events for approximately 15,000 delegates from across the UK.

Events ranged from national awards ceremonies and corporate conferences to business lunches and charity galas.

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Organisations accommodated at the hotel include Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland, Women’s Enterprise Scotland, Network Rail, Rolls-Royce, and the University of Strathclyde.

Award follows multi-million-pound hotel refurbishment

Following a multi-million-pound refurbishment and rebrand in 2021, voco Grand Central Hotel’s meeting and events spaces were transformed to blend its iconic Queen Anne architecture with modern technology and contemporary design.

The hotel offers eight distinctive meeting and event spaces, catering for everything from intimate board meetings to large-scale conferences.

Its flagship – The Grand Ballroom – is one of Glasgow’s most striking event venues, combining historic architectural features with 21st-century comfort. The Grand Ballroom is also unique for having abundant natural light.

The hotel boasts a Conscious Connections package which has been created to support sustainable events without compromising on quality or comfort.

The dedicated package plants one tree for every ten delegates and includes unlimited tea, coffee, fresh fruit, and a sustainably sourced lunch.

Additional perks include a hydration station, digital walking map, premium Wi-Fi, and a paper-free meeting room with modern tech. A dedicated event organiser ensures everything runs smoothly.

Over its extensive history, since it opened back in 1883, the hotel has welcomed a number of famous faces.

The Fab Four performed in Glasgow on five occasions and on each of them stayed at the Central Hotel. As Beatlemania took off, thousands gathered outside the hotel to try and catch a glimpse of the band.

Meanwhile, John F Kennedy visited in 1939, when the then future President of The United States met survivors of the TSS Athenia.

David Cochrane, Chief Executive, HIT Scotland: “Congratulations to voco Grand Central Hotel on this well-deserved award.

“We have hosted our Talent Conference at the hotel for several years now, and the experience has always been exceptional.

“The facilities are fantastic, the catering is excellent, and the professionalism and warmth of the staff are truly top class.

“Combined with its city-centre location and unrivalled transport links, voco Grand Central is an outstanding venue for conferences and business events in Scotland.”