The Edinburgh Reporter March 2024

14 BUSINESS

EICC report record profits

CEO says success

was retaining sales

team during Covid

By BUSINESS REPORTER

THE EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL

CONFERENCE CENTRE (EICC) has reported

both increased turnover and profit - and

applauds its team for the results.

The city centre venue announced increased

revenue of £12.8 million to 31 December 2023

up from £11.8 million the previous year. Profits

of £2.6 million are a record and a huge increase

from £699,000 in 2022.

The EICC welcomed 132,000 delegates last

year (72,000 in 2022) and estimates the

economic impact on the city and the

surrounding region at £58 million.

The total economic impact since the EICC

opened its doors in 1995 is estimated at £

million.

EICC Chief Executive, Marshall Dallas, said:

“We kept our sales team intact throughout the

pandemic, which in retrospect was integral to

our revenue performance last year because we

were able to hit the ground running post-

pandemic.

“Holding large international association

conferences is a significant part of our raison

d’être, and in the current year we already have

twenty-one international conferences

confirmed to take place, so that’s a really

encouraging number for us and for business

tourism in general in Edinburgh and Scotland.”

By BUSINESS REPORTER

SURGEONS QUARTER (SQ) celebrates

its twentieth anniversary in what could

be its most successful year to date. The

commercial arm of the Royal College of

Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), expects

turnover to exceed £12 million, through

growth in its conferencing, events and

hotel services.

The business includes Edinburgh’s

largest independent hotel, the 129-bed

Ten Hill Place Hotel, Café 1505, historic

event spaces and a purpose-built

conference centre.

Scott Mitchell, SQ Managing Director,

said: “Celebrating 20 years is an

incredible achievement and its down to

the determination of our people that

ensures we deliver the best experience.

We’ve learned so much from our

dedicated staff over the years. We’re not

blind to the fact that hospitality is not

renowned for its pay and conditions

however we are committed to provide

support so our people can thrive, not

only in their workplace, but outside of

work too.”

SQ is a cut above

Café 1505

By STAFF REPORTER

LOTHIAN HAS PURCHASED East Lothian

coach operator Eve Coaches.

The award-winning bus company will

acquire the touring operator, based in

Dunbar, to expand its coach and tours

services in East Lothian. Lothian will

operate the acquired services under the

Eve Coaches brand which include a

mixture of local bus services, private hire

services and school work.

Sarah Boyd, Lothian Managing Director

said: “Eve Coaches is a well-known

operator with 40 years of service to East

Lothian. We look forward to the

opportunities that this acquisition will

afford us in the future.”

It’s a new dawn

for Eve Coaches

A LEADING EDINBURGH

HOTEL has marked 20 years of

hosting international guests

with a special tartan

commissioned in partnership

with Gordon Nicholson

Kiltmakers.

The Glasshouse tartan

design includes hints of the

hotel’s Scottish heritage and

the Malaysian roots of owners

YTL Hotels.

The Leith Street hotel near

The Playhouse is a part of the

YTL Hotels group, a unique

collection in the UK and Asia,

which also has ski hotels in

Japan.

All guests and staff now

have the opportunity to wear

The Glasshouse tartan which

has been officially registered.

YTL Hotels is run by

Executive Director Dato’ Mark

Yeoh Seok Kah who was in

Edinburgh recently to host a

special dinner in partnership

with Kilchoman.

The Glasshouse has also

partnered with the Shortbread

House of Edinburgh to create

new YTL branded shortbread

boxes which are now available

to buy from the hotel.

http://www.ytlhotels.com

Glasshouse plaid takes the biscuit

Eve coaches has

operated for 40 years