CONVENTION CENTER SPECS

Total exhibit space: Currently, about 25,000 square feet split between two halls. In 2013, after

an expansion pro- ject, 42,012 square feet split between three halls

Edinburgh International Conference Centre,Nearby Hotels,&Attractions

WhereHistory IsAlways in theMaking

EDINBURGH,SCOTLAND’SCAPI- tal and second-most populous city, offers meeting attendees a charm- ing, cosmopolitan mix of both new and old.With a timeline dating back to the Middle Ages, including aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site— the Old andNewTown Districts —Edinburgh has a long history of ingenuity and innovation that con- tinues to influence the rest of the world. Known for its creativity, the city also lays claim to hosting one of Europe’s largest science festivals, the annual Edinburgh Internation- al Science Festival.Whyhere? The city is also home to The University of Edinburgh, one of the world’s leading research universities. At the sametime, Scotlandwill be showcasing its array of cul-

tural contributions to theworldduring theYear of Creative Scot- land, a yearlong celebration of the country’s creative vibe. Beyond its rich history and world-renowned institutions, Edinburgh offers meeting attendees an ever-growing mix of new experiences, from an expanded convention center debut- ing in 2013 to name-brand accommodations and updated event spaces inside landmark attractions. The Edinburgh

100 pcmaconvene February 2012

International Conference Centre (EICC) will debut a new look in the spring of 2013 after a $114- million expansion and renovation. The project will add a new, 17,200-square-foot multipurpose hall featuring a state-of-the-art, moving floor that can be reconfig- ured for multiple set-ups. In addi- tion to more breakout rooms and a new restaurant, a second auditori- umwith 2,000 seats will comple- ment the existing 1,200-seat audi- torium. When complete, the center will have the ability to host ban-

quets with up to 1,400 attendees. The conference center isn’t the only new experience for

meeting attendees in Edinburgh—a number of new hotels and off-site meeting spaces are set to debut in 2012 and beyond. The 241-room Caledonian Hilton will become The Caledonian, aWaldorf=Astoria Hotel, after a $32-million renovation, set for completion this summer. The 100-year-old

PCMA PARTNERSHIP: The PCMA Global Corporate Summit will be held July 22–26, 2012, in Glasgow. Sponsored by the Scot- tish Exhibition + Conference Centre and VisitScotland, the invitation-only event will concentrate on topics ranging from the fluctuating economy to CSR initiatives.

www.pcma.org