Edinburgh's EICC offers delegates selection of ‘immersive’ online experiences

The Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) has partnered with Edinburgh Lockdown Economy to give delegates an “immersive” city experience online ahead of returning to full operations.

The offering includes a virtual tour by Invisible Cities, whose guides have experience of homelessness. Picture: contributed.

Delegates joining events run by the EICC can access city highlights including virtual tours of the Forth Bridges and St Giles’ Cathedral, taking part in a daily pub quiz at Summerhall, watching live comedy streamed from The Stand or a virtual tour by Invisible Cities, whose guides have experienced homelessness.

Last month, the EICC launched a new hybrid events model, Make it Edinburgh Live, while Edinburgh Lockdown Economy was set up by the team behind suggestion app Vocal to help local independent businesses via a free listings site that now boasts 600-plus businesses and more than 90,000 visitors to the site.

EICC boss Marshall Dallas said: “Helping delegates to have the best possible experience of being in Edinburgh when they attend events here has always been part of our offering. While we run client events within Make it Edinburgh Live, we want to give delegates joining events online a rich experience, and partnering with the Edinburgh Lockdown Economy has helped us to realise that.

The EICC has partnered with Edinburgh Lockdown Economy. Picture: contributed.

“They are doing amazing work and they share our ethos for supporting the local business community, social enterprises and other city partners in and around the city.”

Tom Harries, founder of Vocal and Edinburgh Lockdown Economy, said: “Edinburgh Lockdown Economy’s success to date is down to the city’s incredible range of independent businesses, together with a public who have been supportive of us and these businesses since day one. Our team has helped to raise the profile of local players and the partnership with the EICC takes this to another level in terms of bringing these businesses to the attention of people outside Scotland.”

Invisible Cities founder and chief executive Zakia Moulaoui said: “In common with so many others, the current health crisis has been challenging for our team who would have been approaching their busiest time of the year. Until our people can get back on the streets with tourists, we’ve been heartened by the interest in our virtual tours and we’re grateful for the roles Edinburgh Lockdown Economy and the EICC have played in getting the word out on the web.”

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