New team to promote city to the world

THE integration of three marketing bodies that promote Edinburgh will give the city a promotion body to rival Glasgow's, city leaders said today.

The Destination Edinburgh Marketing Alliance (Dema) is to merge with Edinburgh Film Focus and the Edinburgh Convention Bureau to create Marketing Edinburgh. And Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, believes that will finally give the city a marketing body to rival the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.

He said: "This is coming towards the final incarnation of Dema, moving towards Marketing Edinburgh. This gives Edinburgh the equivalent of the Glasgow Marketing Bureau and it is a real coup for this administration." The marketing bodies are currently working with Essential Edinburgh and leading businesses in the city on a three-year joint strategic marketing strategy for the Capital.

The city council approved the formal creation of Marketing Edinburgh last month and an action plan is currently being drawn up in time for the new financial year next April.