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City of Edinburgh Council

Conference Centre

Edinburgh International Conference Centre

Economic Impact


Now in its third year of operation, Edinburgh's state-of-the-art conference centre has brought significant economic benefits to the City. Since its opening in September 1995, more than 100,000 new business tourists have arrived annually in the Capital. The additional expenditure derived from these conference delegates and their spouses is estimated to be £24.2 million. Recently host to the prestigious Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the EICC is now set to compete for more international government and state events. With the backing of Investors in People (IIP) and many more training and marketing awards, the EICC has played an instrumental role in boosting Edinburgh to the worldÕs 12th most popular conference destination, according to the league table published by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).

Conferences range in size from small seminars to large international association and corporate events of 1,700 delegates where up to 150 casual staff will be employed. Where possible, clients use the services of local suppliers. Examples of conferences which have taken place so far include IBM, European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Artisan, Kwik-Fit, Arthur Andersen, British Assurance, British Association of Urological Surgeons, Eurostar and the Scottish Thistle Awards.



EICC Actual Business (September 1995 to December 1997)

Market segment Delegate days Economic impact (£)
Association 162,369 17,640,799
Corporate 91,840 6,595,071
Total 254,209 24,235,870

Source: Edinburgh International Conference Centre.


Delegates will spend over 100,000 days annually attending conferences and meetings at the EICC. In addition, delegates spend a further 30,000 days in Scotland as a result of staying on after the conference has finished or returning for a holiday.
© The City of Edinburgh Council, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1YJ, Gen. Enq: 0131 200 2323, justask@edinburgh.gov.uk