Tag: Marketing Edinburgh

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Edinburgh’s business tourism boosted by Medical conferences

Edinburgh’s position as a world leader in medical research, life sciences innovation and entrepreneurship is being reinforced, with a significant number of health organisations choosing the city as a host destination for events and conferences this autumn.

In 2018-2019, the business tourism team at Marketing Edinburgh, supported on 37 health conferences, bringing 18,321 delegates to the city. This accounts for almost half (44 per cent) of business tourism revenue generated over that period of time.

These figures reinforce Edinburgh’s reputation as a pioneering hub for medical science, also strengthen Edinburgh’s position in the ICCA world rankings; 27th in the world, second only to London in the UK for hosting international conferences.

Some of the conferences scheduled for the remainder of 2019 include the International Conference on Law Enforcement and Public Health (Edinburgh International Conference Centre, October), Compassionate Mind Foundation’s International Conference (Royal College of Physicians, October) and World Extreme Medicine (Dynamic Earth, November).

The international research network One Health Platform views the city as leaders in the field, choosing Edinburgh over other global cities as the host destination for the 6thWorld One Health Congress in June 2020.

Lisa Boden, co-chair for the 6th World One Health Congress, said: “Edinburgh is a leading global hub for medical research and innovation, its universities attracting some of the world’s best talent in the field. We’re very much looking forward to working with the city’s research institutes, the Scottish Government, Marketing Edinburgh and the EICC to share knowledge, collaborate and hopefully further our cause: to ultimately make a different to society and the lives of people globally.”

This significant win, a collaboration across Marketing Edinburgh, VisitScotland Business Events, Scottish Government, University of Edinburgh and the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, will deliver an estimated £3.3 million for the local economy and presents an opportunity for industry experts from across the globe to collaborate and share knowledge.

Amanda Ferguson, head of business tourism at Marketing Edinburgh said: “It’s the aim of the business events campaign, ‘Make It Edinburgh’, to showcase the Scottish capital’s centres of excellence, our life sciences sector being one of these.

“With esteemed and influential events such as World One Health Congress choosing Edinburgh as a host city, there is an opportunity to not only showcase and share our expertise, but to allow the sector to grow and flourish. Greater expertise and entrepreneurship in health and life sciences ultimately attracts more talent and investment, delivering economic growth through innovation.”

Dr Neil Anderson, University of Edinburgh, was a key member of the bid team. He said: “We are thrilled to host the Sixth World One Health Congress in Edinburgh in 2020, welcoming international health scientists and professionals, opinion leaders and policy makers from the One Health community to Scotland’s capital.

“As a global facing university, we have vibrant One Health and global health partnerships nationally and internationally, and we look forward to showcasing the world of Scotland’s world-leading collective of research institutes, and engaging with other stakeholders to improve the health of people, animals and the environment.”

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Proposed cuts by City Council to Convention Bureau budget condemned by Edinburgh’s academic leaders

More than 75 of Edinburgh’s most respected academics and researchers have united in their condemnation of the proposed 2019/20 budget cuts to Marketing Edinburgh, as drafted by the City of Edinburgh Council last month.

Speaking in support of Convention Edinburgh, the business tourism arm of Marketing Edinburgh, leaders from across fields including medical sciences, paediatrics, ecology and data sciences, have voiced their concern that the cuts would not only damage the city’s future as a superior conference and meeting destination, but the ‘world-leading academic ecosystem’ Edinburgh is renowned for.

More than 75 members of the ‘Edinburgh Ambassador’ Programme, managed by Convention Edinburgh, have voiced their concerns through letters to councillors or by submitting their views through the City of Edinburgh Council consultation hub. Between them, they represent some ofEdinburgh’s most respected business, scientific and academic institutions, including all four of the city’s universities, Roslin Innovation Centre and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. They have all worked or are currently working closely with Convention Edinburgh to bring prestigious and valuable conferences to the city, which have a lasting legacy for the Scottish Capital. From research collaboration to driving forward innovation, hosting conferences in Edinburgh benefits the city in the long term through economic and social progress.

With Marketing Edinburgh facing 89% budget cuts over the next two years, a reduction of £790,000, the future of the organisation and the Edinburgh Ambassador Programme is in jeopardy. This is a group of more than 540 academics and industry leaders who Convention Edinburgh support to bring conferences to Edinburgh.  Since 1998, Edinburgh Ambassadors have secured 1,348 conferences with 528,605 delegates to Edinburgh which resulted in an economic impact of £900M for the city. 

Felicity Mehendale, honorary senior clinical lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Without the professional expertise and help from Marketing Edinburgh, I would not have been successful in winning the bid for the four-yearly International Cleft Conference in 2021 – this will be the first time it has ever been held in the UK.

“Winning bids for prestigious international congresses brings significant business to Edinburgh and many repeat visitors. However, bidding is now extremely competitive, and we simply cannot rely solely upon the academic reputation of Edinburgh – we absolutely need an organisation like Marketing Edinburgh to help with the many aspects of conference bidding which is beyond our remit as academics.”

In a letter to City of Edinburgh Council, Dr Richard Reardon, senior lecturer in Equine Surgery, The University of Edinburgh University said: “Removing more than £0.5M from Marketing Edinburgh’s financial plans would leave Scotland’s Capital as the only major city in the developed world without a Convention Bureau. Who else will champion Edinburgh on a national and global scale as a conference destination? Who else will act as the critical lynchpin between academia and the city, leading on city bids and persuading associations to hold their conferences in Edinburgh? As plans currently stand, no-one will. I would ask that all Councillors play your part in ensuring their survival.”

Professor Jessie Kennedy Dean, research and innovation office, Edinburgh Napier University said: “Convention Edinburgh has assisted me in bringing several conferences to the city, without their help this would have been less likely to happen. Running conferences is work over and above normal academic duties, which brings esteem to the University, in addition to the economic benefits to the city and therefore plays a vital role in the success of Edinburgh’s institutions.”

Brian Corcoran, CEO, Turing Festival said: “Turing Fest brings many business visitors into Edinburgh every year. Our mission is to take that number – of investors, entrepreneurs, start-ups, global tech companies, technical talent, customers – up to 10,000 over the next few years, which will help establish Edinburgh internationally as one of Europe’s best tech hubs. Marketing Edinburgh has been a great support to us in our journey so far – helping source venues and hotels and creating synergies by connecting us to other operators in the city.

“Frankly, we are much more likely to be successful in creating the UK’s flagship tech conference in Edinburgh if there are resources like Marketing Edinburgh in place to help us.”

Amanda Ferguson, head of business tourism, Convention Edinburgh said: “Conferences foster knowledge exchange, innovation and networking, attracting world-leading specialists as delegates and speakers. As host city, this is a unique opportunity to showcase their research and Edinburgh’s strength in that field. This results in collaborative research, investment and ultimately jobs.

“Reducing our budget by such a large amount means we would no longer be able to support our ambassadors to bring conferences to the city and thereby deny the city important economic impact and opportunity to show case the strength of our knowledge economy.

“Without a body that unites public and private sectors in the city’s promotion and economic development, we will severely compromise Edinburgh’s ability to attract conferences. I would ask that Edinburgh’s Councillors work with us to find an alternative solution that will not jeopardise the good work underway by Marketing Edinburgh and our ambassadors.”

Business tourism is a significant contributor to the Edinburgh economy with delegates spending double that of a typical leisure tourist and critically coming out with the busy summer months. This helps sustain a year-round tourism sector in Edinburgh.  In 17/18 Convention Edinburgh confirmed 108 conferences, meetings and other corporate events with a total economic impact of £72m.

Edinburgh Councillors will vote on the city’s 2019/20 proposed budget on 21 February.