Edinburgh Conference Centre

NEWS RELEASE
April 2007 

THE EDINBURGH CONFERENCE CENTRE ANNOUNCES
A £57,000 INVESTMENT AT THE JAMES WATT CENTRE I

Summer 2007 will see the commencement of a major upgrade of the Audio Visual facilities at the Edinburgh Conference Centre, Heriot-Watt University.  A total of £57,000 will be invested in improvements to the sound, lighting and projection facilities in the purpose-built James Watt I Auditorium, which seats 600 in tiered seating.

Included in the upgrade is the complete overhaul of the auditorium sound system, a new lighting desk, enhancements to the flexibility of the lighting system and the installation of a SXGA Plus Data Projector. Additionally, improvements will also be made to five of the Conference Centre's breakout rooms.

Says Tom Goodfelllow, Sales and Marketing Manger: "We are so thrilled to announce the go-ahead for this exciting project, which is part of our on-going investment programme here at the Edinburgh Conference Centre. Conscious of meeting the discerning needs of the marketplace, other projects nearing completion are the development of a central presentation server and review suite, and the facility for real time recording of presentations and productions of DVDs, which allows audio and visual content to be distributed on the spot to delegates."

The Edinburgh Conference Centre at Heriot-Watt University is set in a peaceful location, six miles west of Edinburgh and its many attractions; three miles from Edinburgh airport; one hour's drive from Glasgow, Stirling and Perth; and four hour's by train from London. Car parking for delegates using the centre is free and the campus offers 165 bedrooms of dedicated accommodation for guests, with over 900 rooms available in vacation periods.

Scott Robertson, Marketing Manager, at VisitScotland Business Tourism, shares Tom Goodfellow's enthusiasm about the new developments: "Having a world-class conference venue such as the Edinburgh Conference Centre is a real asset for business tourism in Scotland. The range of improved facilities at the James Watt Centre I certainly will ensure that interest in this facility will continue to increase, maintaining its role as an integral part of this popular, versatile venue."

Complementing the James Watt Centre I and located within the same building, the flexible James Watt Centre II appeals to a wider audience and is able to accommodate cabaret-style events, awards dinners, product launches, conferences, training seminars and receptions. It has a capacity of 400 for dinner and 800 for receptions. High-speed wireless internet access has been installed recently throughout the two centres and the smaller meeting rooms.