Tuesday August 4th 2026
Mascot Finnie and Team Wales at Glasgow Marriott
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Glasgow Marriott Hotel has revealed what it’s like to host athletes and support teams during the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, including extraordinary volumes of kitchen preparation, storing abnormal baggage and over the unforgettable 11-day sporting spectacular.
As an official partner hotel of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, the four-star deluxe city centre hotel welcomed teams and officials from across the Commonwealth, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Behind the scenes, months of planning went into ensuring athletes had everything they needed to perform at their best, and as the Games drew nearer, crates of deliveries from the Games sponsors and brand partners arrived from bottled water and wellbeing care packages to branded merchandise. The hotel also had to prepare for storing and accommodating large and abnormal luggage including pole vaults which presented an interesting challenge for the team.
The hotel’s kitchen also prepared for thousands of high-protein breakfasts and recovery meals, serving around the clock with the kitchen in full swing from 4.30am until midnight every day of the Games.
Over the 11 days, the team served:
21,000 eggs
4,000 chicken breasts – around one tonne of chicken
2,500 pancakes
4,000 bananas
More than 10,000 cups of coffee
But it wasn’t just the food that made the Games memorable. The Glasgow Marriott also welcomed medal winners from England, Australia, New Zealand and Scotland, balancing the excitement of the Games with providing athletes a calm environment to rest, recover and prepare between competitions. This included Kate O’Connor who made history by winning Northern Ireland’s first gold medal in the women’s heptathlon.
One of the standout moments of the Games inside the hotel came when members of the New Zealand team performed a traditional Haka in the Marriott Restaurant to honour their medal-winning teammates. The spontaneous celebration drew applause from the entire restaurant.
Fresh from its multi-million-pound refurbishment, the Glasgow Marriott was dressed for the occasion, with artwork and murals celebrating Glasgow and Scotland providing a fitting backdrop for visitors experiencing the city during one of its biggest sporting events of the year.
The celebrations started at Glasgow Marriott even before the opening ceremony, with official Games mascot Finnie making a special visit to the hotel. The team also embraced Scotland’s nationwide ‘All In’ campaign by creating special Games-themed cocktails complete with an ‘All In’ dusting, helping guests get into the Commonwealth spirit.
Chris McGuinness, General Manager of Glasgow Marriott Hotel, said:
“We’ve hosted international sports teams for many years, but being an official partner hotel for a home Commonwealth Games was incredibly special. There was a real buzz throughout the hotel from the moment guests arrived, and it was fantastic to see athletes, coaches and Games Family members from across the Commonwealth coming together under one roof.
“Of course, our priority was making sure every guest had the rest, nutrition and warm welcome they needed, but we also had the privilege of sharing in some unforgettable moments. The Games showcased Glasgow at its very best. We were proud to play a small part in welcoming the world to our city and to deliver the kind of hospitality Glasgow is famous for.”
The Glasgow Marriott has been welcoming visitors to the city for more than 40 years and regularly hosts elite sports teams, major conferences and international events.
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