Launch of the #VirtualGlasgow World Walking Route

Glasgow means ‘Dear Green Place’ in old Scots and as a city, Glasgow aspires to become one of Europe’s most sustainable destinations. As part of Glasgow Convention Bureau’s #VirtualGlasgow Toolkit, the team have launched a new online walking challenge with World Walking, to take delegates to visit some of Glasgow’s sustainable superstars, virtually.

The Glasgow Convention Bureau team have undertaken a number of different virtual walks by participating in Active Staff walking challenges since 2016. Over lockdown, the team continued to use other virtual walks to keep connected and healthy whilst working from home, so it was a natural progression to create our own Virtual Glasgow walk.

The Bureau were keen to partner with World Walking as they are a volunteer-led charity initiative offering simple, free and fun ways to keep active, either individually or as part of a group. Developed simply to motivate people to walk more, this online resource was inspired by the efforts of the Inverclyde Globetrotters, a gym-based Phase IV cardiac rehabilitation class.

Keeping in line with the Bureau’s People Make Glasgow Greener strategy, the walking tours align with Goal 3: Good Health & Wellbeing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, helping encourage delegates joining a conference online to use their non-conference time to step away from their computers, enjoy fresh air and get moving.

Wendy Russell, Glasgow Convention Bureau International Manager who led the initiative said “To welcome delegates logging in from home, the virtual walks are an ideal addition to our #VirtualGlasgow toolkit to help online delegates feel part of the live conference experience by enjoying and learning about their virtual host city.”

Delegates from anywhere in the world can form teams, walk their steps at home and contribute to their team step challenge.

Aileen Crawford, Head of Tourism & Conventions at Glasgow Convention Bureau said: “Although we are all delighted to be welcoming back in-person conferences to our city, we appreciate that hybrid meetings have offered our clients a new way of connecting with their members and communities and expanding knowledge to a wider audience. To support those delegates who are unable to join us in person, these virtual walks help our on-line delegates experience Glasgow by walking around our sustainable city virtually!

Founder of ‘World Walking’, Duncan Galbraith said: “World Walking is thrilled to be partnering with the award-winning Glasgow Convention Bureau to enable delegates to use the steps they walk every day to explore some of the many sustainable initiatives in and around Glasgow.”

Glasgow Convention Bureau Virtual Walks