EDINBURGH International Conference Centre (EICC) has underlined its growing reputation for hosting international conventions as it hiked turnover in 2017.
The EICC, Edinburgh’s biggest conference and events destination, has revealed it attracted 94,000 delegates to around 200 events in 2017, up from 91,000 in 2016. That helped the venue, ultimately owned by City of Edinburgh Council, increase turnover 12 per cent to £11.2 million.
Driving revenue was a significant rise in the number of events held by major UK and international associations at the venue. The EICC held eight such events in 2017, each valued at more than £250,000, when traditionally it would host no more than two.
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Last year the EICC welcomed the European Robotics Forum, the Microbiology Society Annual Conference and the Institute for New Economic Thinking. More famously, it also played host in May to former US President Barack Obama, who delivered a speech to the Scottish Business Awards during what was his first ever visit to Scotland.
Marshall Dallas, chief executive of the EICC, said the venue was reaping the benefits of expanding its international sales team in 2015 and 2016, as well as a £35m expansion completed in 2013.
Mr Dallas also noted that the EICC has seen some benefit from sterling’s weakness since the Brexit vote in terms of making it more price competitive for overseas event organisers.
The EICC said its management accounts show an operating surplus of £1.2m for 2017, up from £640,000 in 2016.
The rise in delegates attending events at the EICC followed a move by Edinburgh up a closely watched global ranking, which tracks the number of conferences attracted by cities around the world. Edinburgh jumped eight places to 27th in the most recent ICCA Global City Index, based on figures for 2016.
Mr Dallas said Edinburgh has grown in stature as an events destination in the last three to four years, boosted by factors such as its improved transport infrastructure within the city and the arrival of further, major hotel brands. He also highlighted the expansion of Edinburgh Airport, which now offers more than 130 routes
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