The EICC Edinburgh conference venue said it increased revenue 45% to £11.8 million in the year to December 31, 2022, with CEO Marshall Dallas noting a “fast-returning confidence” in the sector.

Dallas said: “Our 2022 figures tell a post-pandemic rebound story and, combined with bookings in 2023 and the pipeline for 2024 and beyond, we have real confidence that the industry is moving back to pre-Covid levels.”

The EICC hosted 72,000 delegates in 2022, and has now hosted over two million delegates since opening its doors in 1995.

The EICC was Edinburgh’s main vaccination centre in 2021, working in partnership with NHS Lothian.

In 2022, the EICC recorded economic impact which has a direct benefit to Edinburgh and the surrounding region of £51.9 million, with total economic impact to date at approximately £790 million.

Dallas said: “Economic impact is an important measurement of the benefit that the EICC brings to the city, and the planned hotel and hotel school development is going to add to this number while creating jobs in the sector.”

In June 2022, Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced a franchise agreement with the EICC for a 350-bedroom Hyatt Centric hotel in the Haymarket area of the city.

“The hotel, set to open its doors in 2025, will improve the strength of the EICC as an international event destination, will see revenues reinvested into the conference centre and hotel, and the hotel school will help to address recruitment challenges faced by Scotland’s hospitality industry,” said EICC.

Dallas added: “The opening of the hotel means we will more than triple our revenue run rate and will see us making significant achievements in terms of sustainability, as well as the development making us one of the most financially sustainable conference venues on the international scene.

“Overall, we are well on track with our strategic plan for the business.”