CEO Amanda Wrathall reflects on her first five months leading the EICC – a period defined by milestone achievements, global visibility, and the start of our 30th anniversary year
AS WE COME to the end of the year, I’ve been thinking a great deal about the last five months – and what an incredible experience it has been stepping into the role of CEO of this amazing organisation. It feels especially meaningful to do so in our 30th anniversary year.
In 2025, we marked that milestone with a wonderful gathering that brought together so many people who have shaped this business over the last three decades. My sincere thanks to each and every one of them for celebrating with us.
It has also been a year in which we delivered some truly exceptional events across a variety of sectors, welcoming people from all over the world. The variety and scale of what happens in this building every single day really is remarkable. At the heart of it all is our core purpose: knowledge exchange.
By the end of December, we will have delivered £1 billion in economic impact to the city
And none of it happens without the people who bring it together – our sales team, events team, technicians, hosts, catering who keep our delegates nourished, and the colleagues who keep our building shiny and clean. To all of them, thank you for everything you do.
This year has also seen an extraordinary milestone: by the end of December, we will have delivered £1 billion in economic impact to the city. It’s an achievement that reflects not just the power of conferences and events, but the strength of our partnerships across Edinburgh and Scotland.
We’ve welcomed new colleagues into the business and celebrated significant promotions, both of which further strengthen our organisation as we build into the future. Alongside this, 2025 has seen the launch and evolution of several key initiatives – all part of our commitment to widening impact and shaping the sector:
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EICC Nourish: our reimagined food and beverage offering.
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The EICC Impact Network: extending the purpose and reach of conferences and events, far beyond the venue. far beyond the conference halls.
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EI Fellowships: supporting early-career researchers in Edinburgh to attend conferences at no charge.
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Our new Neurodiversity in Events Checklist: ensuring we are accessible to all delegates, whatever their requirements.
It has also been a year where we’ve been highly visible on the global stage, representing the EICC at IMEX in both Frankfurt and Las Vegas, IBTM in Barcelona, The Meetings Show in London, and ICCA in Porto, to name just a few. Being part of these global conversations is incredibly important to us, and I’m proud of how the EICC continues to show up internationally.
I feel genuinely confident about what comes next. We have momentum. We have purpose. And we have a team and a community around us that give this building its real strength
Along the way, we’ve won numerous awards – including Best Business Event at the Visit Scotland Scottish Thistle Awards, being named Scotland's Best Convention Centre at the World MICE Awards 2025, and our Head of Association Sales, Gayle, winning the Outstanding Contribution award at the ABPCO Excellence Awards this month.
As we look ahead to 2026, I feel genuinely confident about what comes next. We have momentum. We have purpose. And we have a team and a community around us that give this building its real strength.
Before I finish, I want to extend a sincere thank you to our customers, our partners in Edinburgh and around the world, our team, and of course, our Board for their continued support. As the festive season approaches, I wish you a restful and joyful break – and we look forward to delivering even more with you in 2026.
Explore more stories at the Ideas Hub – and follow us as we move into the next chapter of our 30th anniversary year.
