Edinburgh-based event professionals have launched a new tool to measure the societal impact that conferences and business events have in the city.
The Business Events Shaping Tomorrow (BEST) tool makes pools data from conference organisers to calculate to what extent a meeting has benefited the city.
Seven organisations are behind the scheme including venues and hotels, Convention Edinburgh, EICC, Edinburgh Airport, and the National Museum of Scotland.
The tool works by inviting those involved in the conference to provide qualitative data and content which relates to how the conference performed in areas such as wellbeing, food choices, volunteering levels, and social interactions. This data is collated and verified, and organisers are then awarded an accreditation based on their positive contributions to the city.
Amanda Wrathall, sales and marketing director of EICC and Convention Edinburgh said: “Business events have the potential to make a significant positive impact to society in the destination that they are held, and Edinburgh is a city with plays host to hundreds of conferences and events every year. Traditionally, we’ve not had the tools to measure values out with the economic impact of an event, so we’re extremely proud to have developed our Business Events Shaping Tomorrow (BEST) tool which will enable us to measure areas including wellbeing and community involvement, right here in Edinburgh.”
Using software developed by Edinburgh technology firm Cenefits, supported by Edinburgh Napier University Associate professor Dr Martin Robertson, BEST has been designed to aid event organisers so that their conferences adhere to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The SDGs most prevalent in the scheme cover: good health and wellbeing; quality education; reduced inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production, and; partnerships.
The project was supported by the Scottish Government’s Tourism Leadership and Recovery Fund via Scottish Enterprise.
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
