Edinburgh’s convention
bureau is launching a new Ambassador Programme, bringing together the Scottish capital's academic community and event professionals in a bid to lure more international association conferences to the
city.
A similar ambassador programme was launched in the 1990s. It has now been revived by Convention Edinburgh, which has been under the stewardship of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre
(EICC) since June last year, after several years of financial turmoil.
The City of Edinburgh Council asked the EICC to act as guardian for Convention Edinburgh for an initial period of 18 months, with a view to extending the contract into 2024 and beyond.
In 2019 Marketing Edinburgh, the body tasked with promoting Edinburgh to the world, which previously ran the bureau, was stripped of most of its local authority funding. During the pandemic the bureau effectively went into 'hibernation', closing for business in May 2020.
Over the last three decades Edinburgh has attracted more than 1,000 events,
generating in excess of £900 million for the local economy. It is estimated
that more than 70 per cent of international association conferences are secured
by ambassadorial activity.
The Ambassador Programme launch event at the National Museum of
Scotland will see guests including the Deputy Lord Provost of Edinburgh,
Professor Rowan Parks, Professor of Surgical Sciences at the University of
Edinburgh and President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and the
EICC’s CEO Marshall Dallas, come together to celebrate the new initiative.
EICC CEO Marshall Dallas, said: “Conferences generate significant
economic impact for Scotland, and serve to raise the international profile of the
capital’s many centres of excellence - including its universities, royal
colleges, financial institutions, and research
centres. Collectively, they spotlight Scotland’s capital as a
modern, dynamic city that’s continuing to extend its centres of excellence into
new fields of expertise and ground-breaking research. We also
recognise the power of ambassadorial activity, and are excited to launch the
new programme this week.”
Earlier this year, Convention Edinburgh launched an Advisory Group
comprising Sue Stuart (Surgeons Quarter), Amanda Ferguson (University of
Edinburgh Hospitality & Events Collection), Shona Clelland (Cultural
Venues, City of Edinburgh Council), Elaine Elder (National Museums of Scotland
Enterprises), Neil Ellis (Edinburgh Hotels Association), Rob Lang (Edinburgh
Airport), Colin Horsburgh (En Pointe Solutions), and Stuart Evans (Fusion
Meetings and Events).
Led by the EICC’s sales and marketing
director, Amanda Wrathall, Convention Edinburgh’s remit
includes attracting conferences and events to Edinburgh by supporting venues
across the city with their bids, and assisting event bookers during the
destination and venue selection process for their conferences.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
