Helping you prosper
As Glasgow prepares to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, much of the attention will naturally focus on elite sport, international audiences and national pride. However, beyond the stadiums and medal tables, there is also a significant opportunity for hospitality businesses and the wider local economy.
From my experience working closely with sporting national governing bodies, major events such as the Commonwealth Games create an economic ripple effect that extends far beyond sport itself. Hospitality often sits right at the centre of that activity, from accommodation and food services through to tourism, leisure and local supply chains.
While Glasgow 2026 is set to be a more streamlined event than previous editions of the Games, the economic potential remains considerable. The Scottish Government has forecast more than £150 million of economic benefit linked to the event, driven by visitor spending, business activity and wider investment.
For hospitality operators, there are clear lessons from Glasgow’s previous experience hosting the Games in 2014. During the event, the city welcomed around 690,000 visitors, with hotel occupancy rates reportedly reaching 95% and room yields rising significantly throughout the Games period. Even on a smaller scale, Glasgow 2026 has the potential to create increased demand across accommodation, restaurants, bars and leisure venues.
However, the real opportunity for businesses extends beyond simply managing higher footfall during the event itself.
Hospitality at the heart of major events
One consistent theme from working with sporting organisations is that the long-term success of major events is often shaped by how effectively they connect with the local economy.
Visitors do not only remember the sporting action. They remember the atmosphere of a city, the restaurants and bars they visited, the quality of service they received, and the overall experience surrounding the event. Hospitality businesses therefore play a critical role in shaping both visitor perception and the wider economic impact of the Games.
Past events demonstrate the scale of this wider impact. The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games contributed an estimated £1.2 billion to the UK economy, with sectors such as accommodation, food services and retail among the key beneficiaries.
For Glasgow businesses, this creates an opportunity not only to benefit from short-term demand, but also to strengthen the city’s longer-term reputation as a destination for tourism, culture and future events.
Balancing opportunity with operational reality
Of course, major events also bring challenges.
Hospitality businesses can often face increased pressure on staffing, supply chains and operating costs during periods of exceptionally high demand. In some cases, businesses may overextend themselves operationally or make short-term decisions that impact profitability.
From an advisory perspective, preparation is key. Businesses should be thinking carefully about:
- workforce planning and staffing capacity
- cash flow forecasting
- supplier resilience
- pricing strategy
- stock management
- balancing short-term demand with long-term customer experience.
The businesses that tend to benefit most from major events are often those that plan early, remain operationally disciplined and focus on delivering a strong customer experience rather than simply chasing short-term revenue.
Looking beyond 2026
Perhaps the most important consideration for Glasgow is the longer-term legacy the Games could help create.
Historically, major sporting events have helped strengthen tourism, increase international visibility and support wider inward investment. For hospitality businesses, that legacy can translate into repeat visitation, stronger brand recognition and greater confidence in the local market long after the event has finished.
Glasgow already has a strong reputation for culture, entertainment and hospitality. Glasgow 2026 presents an opportunity to build on that further and showcase the city to a global audience once again.
Final thoughts
The Commonwealth Games are about far more than sport alone. For hospitality businesses and local operators, they represent an opportunity to be part of a wider moment of economic activity, tourism growth and city-wide investment.
While there are undoubtedly operational challenges to navigate, businesses that prepare strategically and remain commercially focused could be well placed to benefit, not only during the Games themselves, but in the years that follow.
