At the EICC we are totally committed to ensuring that all our events and conferences are accessible to all attendees regardless of ability. With this in mind, the autumn/winter issue of Conference Call is themed around inclusiveness.

In the Cover Story we speak to a number of organisations including VisitScotland and Euan’s Guide about accessible tourism and how Scotland and Edinburgh are becoming ‘inclusive destinations’. EICC’s Sales and Marketing Director, Amanda Wrathall, also discusses the steps that the EICC has taken to enhance our venue’s accessibility in preparation for hosting major congresses focused on disability. Amongst them was the RI World Congress in October, which brought together the world’s leading disability experts to propose strategies for inclusion.

In September the EICC also hosted the Autism-Europe International Congress, which focused on the most recent developments in the field of autism. During the Congress we were very proud to become the second building in Edinburgh to receive an Autism Friendly Award. Kate Laird from the National Autistic Society tells us more about the Congress in this month’s Case Study.

In this issue’s Destination feature we also look at what Edinburgh has to offer delegates who want to keep active and how conferences can incorporate activities into their social programmes. As jogscotland’s Billy Mitchell tells us, inclusivity is a key aspect of such activities.

And finally, we introduce you to the EICC’s new Operations Director Marion McKean and look ahead to the festive period in Highlights at the EICC and Capital News.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Conference Call and please do get in touch if you have any feedback.

Marshall Dallas
Chief Executive