Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre, Glasgow

"Be prepared for a lot of tartan," we were warned seconds before stepping into the SECC, the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre in Glasgow.

Sure enough, a sea of tartans sprinkled with islands of tweeds awaited us inside the VisitScotland Expo, an annual travel trade show that brings buyers and suppliers together under one roof. But this wasn't any ordinary roof: this expo was held in a building adjoining the most recognized roof in Glasgow: the one affectionately nicknamed The Armadillo for its familiar silver shape.

Officially known as the Clyde Auditorium, the armadillo is a 3000-person concert hall whose distinctive shell is a well-known sight on the Glasgow skyline, making it easy to pinpoint the convention facilities from anywhere in the city. The auditorium shares the site with the conference center, expansive enough to hold simultaneous conventions in its five halls. During our conference, we were completely unaware that another hall held a major European fishing expo. The entire center is served by fiber optics and ISDN lines; the center is presently looking into the possibility of adding wireless connectivity.

Glasgow was recently named Europe's fastest growing conference destination by the Union of International Associations, and the city makes it easy for groups to meet. Along with two on-site hotels, the purpose-built SECC is located within five minutes of the City Centre where business travelers find facilities such as the new Radisson SAS and the Hilton Glasgow, itself with one of the largest in-house convention facilities in Scotland. Glasgow has the reputation of offering the cheapest taxi rates in the UK so most delegates take a quick cab ride to the center but, for longer distances, the center also has its own railway station and bus terminus. For more information, see www.secc.co.uk. --Paris Permenter & John Bigley