Edinburgh's convention centre intends to take its future into its own hands. Although the city's convention bureau was to cease operating in 2020, initially on a temporary basis, the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) has reached an agreement with the Scottish capital's authorities to take over its management and to provide a new venue for the convention centre. operations management. This will be the case for at least 18 months, and may be extended thereafter, during which the EICC will work with local partners, hoteliers and event venues in particular, to attract more conferences and congresses in Edinburgh.
" Without the official support of a convention bureau over the last two years, with a lack of destination marketing activities to attract new events and support customers requiring convention bureau services, the city's business events sector has been in the spotlight" said Marshall Dallas, CEO of the EICC.
With a large number of UK and international conferences scheduled to take place at the EICC next year, the future of the destination also involves new developments to enhance the attractiveness of the metropolis. While Edinburgh is seeing the emergence of new top-of-the-range hotels such as the Virgin Hotel, the luxurious 100 Princess Street and the urban version of the famous Scottish resort of GleneaglesBut it's the Haymarket development that's really catching the eye.
This £350 million project, led by Qmile Group and M&G Real Estate, aims to create a new beacon in the city the flagship of which is architecture designed to ecological standards by the world-renowned firm Foster + Partners. Multi-functional, the site has been redeveloped from a derelict railway site and, as it nears completion, will include offices - with Deloitte, Shoosmiths and Dentons and Capricorn Energy among the companies expected to take part - shops, bars and restaurants, as well as a hotel.
Adjacent to Haymarket station, which provides links to Glasgow, London and the rest of the UK, and is linked by tram to the international airport, the Haymarket Edinburgh complex is mainly located in the heart of the city. less than 300 metres from the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. Hence the latter's involvement in its development. The EICC has just announced the finalisation of a franchise agreement with Hyatt for the operation of the hotel integrated into the project. To mark the occasion, the American group will be making its Scottish debut with its upmarket lifestyle brand, Hyatt. Hyatt Centric.
Expected to be completed by 2025, this 349 roomsThe new building, designed like the rest of the project by Foster + Partners to sustainable standards, will further increase the capacity for conference participants in the direct vicinity of the convention centre. In the words of Marshall Dallas, Chief Executive of the EICC, " the Hyatt Centric Edinburgh Haymarket will be the cornerstone which will attract local and international travellers as well as leading personalities every year" .
" The development of Haymarket Edinburgh is essential for the future of the DART as a Scotland's main conference venueand aligns with our mission to create an environment that inspires ideas that change the world" he also declared. In addition to some 350 rooms, the hotel, whose interior design has been entrusted to the Scottish firm Ica, will also have four meeting roomsThe hotel will also have a gym and a street food restaurant concept. The EICC is supporting this hotel development with the creation of a hotel training academy in collaboration with Edinburgh College.
