Article Published 28/07/2021
After more than a year of their doors being shut to events, Scotland's venues are on the road to recovery having secured a number of large-scale conferences and congresses.
We spoke with venues in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen to discuss the events they have secured and the potential value they bring to Scotland's economy.
Edinburgh
The Edinburgh International Conference Centre
The capital's largest conference centre, The Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) has secured several new conferences within the medical and pharmaceutical field.
British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (BSLM) Conference, 2nd - 4th September 2021
In September, EICC will host the fifth annual BSLM Conference which will focus on lifestyle medicine, dedicated to the art and science of healthy longevity.
The conference will unite patients with leading figures from the global lifestyle medicine community, including experts from healthcare and medicine, academia, public health and scientific research. The collective goal is to transform healthcare and explore new approaches to the prevention, treatment, management and reversal of chronic disease.
World Congress on Endometriosis (WCE2023), 3rd - 6th May 2023
EICC has been confirmed as the host venue for the World Congress on Endometriosis 2023, which is expected to attract around 1,200 delegates from across the world.
It is estimated that the congress will contribute around £3m to the city's economy. The bid was led by the University of Edinburgh's Professors Andrew Horne and Philippa Saunders, who will co-chair WCE2023.
The congress will present and promote science that will lead to improved treatments for all affected by endometriosis.
Glasgow
The River Clyde and the SEC Armadillo
Glasgow is gearing up to host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) at the SEC, the largest event to be staged in the country with more than 30,000 delegates expected over 12 days.
The conference, which takes place 31st October - 12 November 2021, will unite more than 190 world leaders with negotiators, government representatives, businesses and citizens to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Glasgow has also secured some fantastic event which will take place in over the coming years including the inaugural C&IT Festival of Forums and the International Play Association World Congress.
C&IT Festival of Forums 26th - 29th July 2022
C&IT will host its inaugural Festival of Forums, at the SEC next year (26th - 29th July 2022).
The Festival of Forums will unite agencies, corporates and more than 175 qualified buyers from across government, association, non-profit and educational sectors, with representatives from more than 80 of Scotland's destinations and venues. The event will also include a senior agency roundtable and several FAM trips will take place to showcase Scotland's regional offer.
The teams at Glasgow Convention Bureau and VisitScotland Business Events worked closely with the SEC to create a proposal for the C&IT team, pitching against other destinations to secure the winning bid.
International Play Association World Congress 6th - 9th June 2023
Glasgow Caledonian University has been confirmed as the host venue for the International Play Association's (IPA) World Congress for 2023, which has been previously held in Calgary and Istanbul. The event is expected to attract up to 700 delegates from more than 50 countries around the world and is worth over £1m to the city's economy.
As future hosts of the 2023 World Congress, Glasgow will be involved in sharing creative solutions from across the globe, to help children cope, and thrive.
The IPA aims to protect, preserve and promote children's right to play as a fundamental human right. The meeting will bring delegates from all professions concerned with the wellbeing of children together in Glasgow to exchange ideas and inspire action. The 2023 world congress will be an opportunity to reflect on what has been learned and what can still be learned as a result of the pandemic.
Aberdeen
The P&J Live
Aberdeen's largest venue, P&J Live, has secured several association conferences which will take place over the next few years and bring a large number of delegates from across the globe to the 'Granite City'.
The British Orthopaedics Association Annual Conference, 21st - 24th September 2021
The British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) will bring its annual conference, one of the largest medical conferences in the UK, to the Baker Hughes Exhibition Hub at P&J Live in September.
BOA is the Surgical Specialty Association for Trauma and Orthopaedics in the UK. Providing national leadership, a unifying focus, and charitable endeavour by caring for patients, supporting surgeons and transforming lives.
The event will take place 21st - 24th September 2021 and is expected to attract approximately 3,000 delegates.
The British Society of Prosthodontics Annual Conference, 10th - 11th March 2022
The annual conference for the British Society of Prosthodontics, which will take place next March, aims to address topical issues of interest to the dental profession. The conference consists of a scientific programme during where research papers and table demonstrations will be presented.
The theme for the 2022 conference is to scrutinise and debate some of the beliefs of prosthodontists. In addition to a line-up of industry speakers, the event will have an interactive plenary session, which will seek to establish what techniques, treatment plans and materials are used by the professionals and how age or experience effects this.
Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain (PESGB) Geosciences Energy Conference in 2023
The Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain (PESGB) has confirmed it will take its Geosciences Energy Conference to P&J Live in 2023. The society was established to explore and evaluate the options available for geoscientists within the rapidly changing energy industry.
The programme for the conference is due to be announced next year and is expected to focus on the future of the industry in a post-pandemic world.
Neil Brownlee, Head of Business Events, VisitScotland said: "It is very encouraging to see our venues attracting and securing high-profile events after a challenging 18 months. Hosting these events provides a fantastic opportunity for us to learn and share the fantastic developments and research taking place across Scotland as well helping to rebuild our economy."