Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) celebrates its fifteenth birthday this month and from the Kwik-Fit Silver Jubilee Awards Ceremony, the centre’s inaugural event in 1995, through to the ninth International Mycological Congress last month, 907,100 delegates have been counted, which translates to a £280 million economic benefit for the city.
Returning to see at first hand ground works for EICC’s Expansion Space, Kwik-Fit founder, Sir Tom Farmer CBE, enjoyed tea and birthday cake with City of Edinburgh Council leader, Jenny Dawe, ninth International Mycological Congress Organising Committee Chairman, Professor Nick Read of Edinburgh University, and EICC chief executive, Hans H Rissmann OBE.
Speaking of EICC, Sir Tom Farmer said: “I wanted to be the first event at the new conference centre and I have watched it give many other companies the same international platform it gave our business. EICC truly is a credit to Edinburgh.”
Talking of his event at EICC Professor Read said: “We brought 1,760 international delegates to Edinburgh for a six day scientific meeting (1-6 August 2010) and our event would be a great fit for the new Expansion Space when it’s ready in 2013. Although major work is clearly underway our meeting was not affected in any way and using the newly refurbished Usher Hall for plenary sessions was a great solution.”
Council Leader, Jenny Dawe, said: “Edinburgh is one of the world’s most resilient business tourism destinations attracting the most innovative companies and largest International Associations and with the new Expansion Space added the future is bright for the events industry in Scotland’s capital”.
EICC chief executive, Hans H Rissmann OBE added: “Our fifteen year track record of success is based on the technologically superior events space we have created for Edinburgh but more importantly on the customer focus and unrivalled dedication that our people apply to everything they do.”
EICC’s £85 million Expansion Space and separate Grade A Offices will open for business in 2013 and the development is a partnership of City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Enterprise and Edinburgh International Conference Centre Limited. The development adds a 2,000 square metre Multi Purpose Hall to EICC and delivers 200,000 square feet of Grade A office space in the city centre.
Since opening on September 17 1995 EICC delegates have consumed 1.8 million cups of coffee or tea, 1.2 million pieces of shortbread, 250,000 dinners, and 950,000 lunches.
The one millionth EICC delegate is forecast for the final quarter of 2012 and ahead of the Expansion Space opening.
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