conventionedinburgh.com 1
International Conference on High Energy Physics Edinburgh 2020
conventionedinburgh.com The right destination A world-class base for the sciences, education, 2 engineering, technology, finance and the creative industries. The capacity to host events from executive meetings to corporate conferences. Flexible accommodation, excellent transportation and links to destinations worldwide.
Organising a conference – we can help Why Edinburgh? Complimentary support services for every stage A uniquely inspirational setting. 3 of the process, from hiring your venue and 1 A worldwide reputation for innovation, finding accommodation to social programmes discovery and progress. (Edinburgh Robotic Centre image) and support services. Conference venues 6 Purpose-built, state-of-the-art conference centres. Stately homes. Classic and modern hotels. Venues with a diference, from the Waiting to welcome you Castle to underground caves. Edinburgh 4 A few words from Edinburgh’s representatives provides unforgettable conference settings
How to get here After hours 5 Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s busiest, 7 There’s so much to see and do in Edinburgh serving around 130 worldwide destinations. that the only problem you’ll have is fitting it all Edinburgh Waverley Station connects to all the in. Top tourist attractions, the finest food and major cities in Britain. An excellent network of drink, outstanding golf courses and superb motorways and trunk roads makes access by spas combine to create an experience your car possible from across Scotland and the UK. delegates will love. 4 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh conventionedinburgh.com 5
Welcome to Edinburgh Contents
Why Edinburgh? 7
The right destination 8
Organising a conference – we can help 15
Waiting to welcome you 16
How to get here 23
Where to stay 24
Conference venues 27
After hours 28
Edinburgh and Scotland 31
Appendices 34 6 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh
“ For anybody thinking of organising a meeting in Edinburgh, there is a huge amount of support. There is always somebody there to help you. It made a big difference.”
Professor Peter Andrews, University of Edinburgh, 5th International Hypothermia Symposium 2014 conventionedinburgh.com 7
Why Edinburgh? A city of firsts
Scotland’s capital city is uniquely inspirational. local authorities within 30 minutes of each other Not only for its fabled loveliness, but also for its and close to the city centre. associations – past and present – with innovation, creativity, discovery and progress. Home to more than 3,000 researchers and 100 market-leading companies, it incorporates the It was here chloroform was first used as an £600m Edinburgh BioQuarter and the £42m anaesthetic and penicillin was discovered. Dolly the Informatics Forum at the University of Edinburgh. sheep was cloned at the University’s Roslin Institute. It also houses the £60m Roslin Institute and the The first ‘bionic’ hand – a powered prosthetic with new Vet School at Easter Bush. It’s a major part of articulating fingers – was developed by a spin-out Scotland’s science and technology sector – a sector company from the city’s Princess Margaret Rose that continues to lead the world. Hospital.
Still leading the way The Edinburgh Science Triangle is a collaboration of universities, research institutes, science parks and 8 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh
The right destination A destination for your delegates. A starting point for your event.
Edinburgh is one of the best locations in the world Connection for a completely successful event. Here’s why: No matter where you’re coming from, Edinburgh is easy to find. Its international airport – Scotland’s Reputation busiest – serves 130 destinations worldwide. Rail Globally recognised as a world-leading authority in links run all over the UK, from Perth to Penzance, the sciences, technology and education, Edinburgh Leeds to London and more. It’s easily accessed is home to Europe’s largest and most successful from Scotland’s motorway network. Transport in the informatics centre. Four of the world’s finest city itself is simple – buses, trams and taxis are in universities. The £600m Edinburgh BioQuarter. And plentiful supply. the fastest-selling video game of all time – Grand Theft Auto V, by Rockstar North.
Accommodation There are more than 20,000 beds in and around the city, from five-star hotels to boutique B&Bs. We’ll help you find and book the rooms best suited to your event. We’ll think about location, space, services and facilities and find you the perfect match. Which means everyone’s assured of a warm welcome — and a good night’s sleep.
Image by Ruth Armstrong conventionedinburgh.com 9
The right destination Added Value
Convention Edinburgh working alongside the Site Inspection Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) Convention Edinburgh can provide 2 complimentary are delighted to be considered for the above flights and 2 nights complimentary accommodation, conference in 2020. Please find below information subject to availability, for 2 people for a site on a financial package and support in kind that we inspection. can ofer you. Edinburgh Rewards Support in Kind - EICC Edinburgh Rewards provides delegates access to EICC has ofered complimentary room hire for discounts at participating bars and restaurants, the Boardroom on a day of your choice to assist many of which are within easy walking distance of with the conference /programme planning. This the EICC. includes arrival tea, cofee and shortbread. Subject For example the Monboddo Bar part of the Hilton to availability for a maximum of 12 delegates. Doubletree Hotel is ofering 20% of bar food. For a Additional catering chargeable. £15 lunch this would equate to a £3 saving per day.
Organisers Internet Service - three hardwired BestCities Global Alliance - is an international internet connections within the Conference network of convention bureaux in 11 premier Organisers Room for the duration of your tenancy meeting destinations. Through this alliance we (if applicable). Complimentary WiFi is available can help create international awareness of your throughout the venues for all attendees. conference and help you build a sustainable legacy.
InnovationNation - a bespoke evening session during your conference inviting local experts and the public to learn more about your mission. 10 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh
Committee Your Local Organising Committee
Chair Committee Members
Franz Muheim, University of Edinburgh, Head of Peter Clarke, University of Edinburgh the Particle Physics Experiment Group (chair) Philip Clark, University of Edinburgh Prof Muheim’s research interest is in experimental particle physics. He is an expert on heavy flavour Luigi Del Debbio, University of Edinburgh, Head of physics and he investigates the diference between the Institute for Institute for Particle and Nuclear matter and antimatter by measuring CP violation in Physics beauty and charmed mesons. He is a member of the LHCb collaboration at the Large Hadron Collider Stephan Eisenhardt, University of Edinburgh at CERN With LHCb data he is currently studying CP violating asymmetries and rare decays of Bs Einan Gardi, University of Edinburgh, Director of the mesons to search for new physics in quantum loop Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics transitions beyond the standard model of particle physics. Richard Kenway, University of Edinburgh, Head of the Particle Physics Theory Group Prof Muheim is an expert on instrumentation. With his team at Edinburgh he played a leading role Christos Leonidopoulos, University of Edinburgh in the construction of the Ring Imaging Cheren- kov Detectors (RICH) for the LHCb experiment, in Victoria Martin, University of Edinburgh particular in the R&D, assembly and commissioning of the RICH photon detectors. He is now leading Alex Murphy, University of Edinburgh the production and testing of new photon sensors for the upgrade of the LHCb experiment in the high Matthew Needham, University of Edinburgh luminosity phase of the LHC. Ken Peach, University of Edinburgh, Honorary Professor
Steve Playfer, University of Edinburgh conventionedinburgh.com 11
Centre of Excellence A long tradition
The School of Physics & Astronomy is one of Current activities include the leading Physics departments in the UK. • ATLAS, LHCb at the LHC • Dark matter: LUX/LZ, Neutrinos: Hyper-K Edinburgh has a long tradition in particle physics • Collider Phenomenology wth a number of vibrant groups working in • Lattice Gauge Theory: UKQCD Experimental and Theoretical Particle Physics. • Particle Cosmology • Instrumentation & Distributed Grid Computing Particle Physics Experiment Group http://www2.ph.ed.ac.uk/particle-physics- experiment/ As local host the Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics will work closely with academic and Particle Physics Theory Group business partners in the city of Edinburgh, in http://www.ph.ed.ac.uk/particle-physics-theory Scotland and in the United Kingdom. These include the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics, the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre EPCC and https://higgs.ph.ed.ac.uk/contact the Scottish University Physics Alliance (SUPA)
Institute for Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics http://www.ph.ed.ac.uk/research/institute-for- particle-and-nuclear-physics 12 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh conventionedinburgh.com 13 14 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh conventionedinburgh.com 15
Organising a conference — we can help Complimentary professional help from Convention Edinburgh
Our services You are in good hands Venue, accommodation, social events, catering, delegate packs – planning a conference is a series of challenges. Whether it’s your first visit to Edinburgh or the return of a regular event, the same issues need to be addressed.
That’s why we ofer a range of complimentary Convention Edinburgh is a founding member support services designed to make the task of of the Best Cities Global Alliance. An alliance planning easier. You’ll fnd full information on which connects you with eleven premier meeting conventionedinburgh.com but in the meantime, destinations, unified by a commitment to deliver here’s how we can help with a few areas. exceptional standards.
Your venue These world premier meeting destinations include We have close relationships with Edinburgh’s Berlin, Bogota, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, key conference venues. So we can help you plan Edinburgh, Houston, Melbourne, Singapore, Tokyo and organise any size of event, from ten delegates and Vancouver. to a thousand. We’ll provide all the advice and support you need to find the venue that’s exactly Thanks to the practice of knowledge and insight right for you. sharing between the destinations you never again have to start planning your event from the Accommodation beginning. We’ll help find the accommodation you and your delegates need. We’ll also negotiate block bookings and rates on your behalf. Then we’ll provide a website link that takes delegates directly to allocated rooms.
After hours Edinburgh has dozens of unique venues and experiences for delegates to enjoy. We’ll help put together a social programme that provides your guests with the full flavour of Scotland’s culture – both traditional and modern.
Support services Our suppliers will help with everything from stands and signage to presentation technology. We’ll promote it, and provide marketing materials and visitor information that will make sure delegates enjoy every minute. 16 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh
Waiting to welcome you A word from the city’s representatives
The Right Honourable Donald Wilson Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh
John Donnelly Chief Executive Marketing Edinburgh conventionedinburgh.com 17
The Right Honourable Donald Wilson Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh
Dear Prof Muheim
I’m delighted to hear you’re considering Edinburgh as the location for your next event. I’m confident you’ll find we’re a city with a great deal to offer.
Aside from our spectacular setting and internationally-acclaimed architecture both old and new, we’re experienced at hosting international events on a grand scale. We have a wide range of conference and meetings venues, everything from purpose-built conference centres to iconic buildings, from academic venues to city centre hotels.
When the working day is over, we’ll keep you and your delegates well entertained. Enjoy a banquet in one of our ancient homes or monuments – including the City Chambers and Edinburgh Castle. Have a guided tour of the Zoo, and meet our honoured guests, pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang. Host a sparkling evening reception at one of the beautiful National Galleries. Or play a round of golf on one of the 28 courses within the city’s boundaries.
Edinburgh is a city well used to extending a warm welcome. We have more than six million visitors a year. We host the world’s largest arts festival every Summer. In August, performers from all over the world take part in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which itself brings in almost a quarter of a million visitors in addition to being broadcast to an international audience of a million. And of course, our Hogmanay celebration welcomes tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world every 31st December.
Edinburgh is Scotland’s great capital city attracting the attention of the world and is the preferred showcase for any major event or gathering. The city is compact and easy to get around and yet large enough to encompass all your needs and interests. The atmosphere in and around the city is a unique blend of excitement and enjoyment which has to be experienced to be appreciated.
With more than 12,000 bedrooms in the city centre, and thousands more within the city boundaries, Edinburgh is ready to offer you its famous hospitality. I very much look forward to welcoming you, and helping to make your event a resounding success.
Yours sincerely,
Donald Wilson Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh
City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1YJ Tel : 0131 200 2000 18 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh
Dear Prof Muheim I’m pleased to hear you’re considering Edinburgh as the location for your Annual Conference in 2020. Having experienced the city in 2015 I hope you agree this is a wonderful city, a truly unique blend of ancient and modern with a fascinating history and an astonishing array of contemporary achievements. There is, quite simply, no finer setting for your conference. As well as an outstanding location, a superb range of venues and exceptional connections to the UK and the rest of the world, Edinburgh offers you all the support you need to make your event a total success. Our team at Convention Edinburgh knows each event has its own unique structure, purpose and needs. That’s why they offer a complimentary service that helps you find and book the venue, accommodation, support services and out of hours activities you need. Working closely with you, the team does everything possible to smooth the way for you and your delegates. They’ll help you with everything from booking your venue and accommodation to catering and communications. You’ll have their full support throughout the process, from the first planning meeting to the last delegate checking out. And you can be assured that no one has more or better experience. In the last financial year alone, they helped bring 206 successful conferences to the city. Choose Edinburgh as your venue and you have immediate access to some of the finest facilities in Europe. You benefit from the dedicated, free support of a professional, knowledgeable and expert conferencing team. And you experience a city celebrated the world over for the beauty of its setting, the glories of its architecture and the warmth of its Scottish welcome. I very much hope to welcome you in person in the near future.
Yours sincerely
John Donnelly Chief Executive
Marketing Edinburgh Ltd conventionedinburgh.com 19 20 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh conventionedinburgh.com 21 22 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh
“ Convention Edinburgh took me through the whole process step-by-step. They explained everything from budgeting and registration to how to wow my delegates at the gala dinner.”
Dr Lesley Sloss, International Agency, Clean Coal Centre International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant ICMG 2013 conventionedinburgh.com 23
How to get here Travel and transport to and around Edinburgh
Air Road Edinburgh airport is served by more than 40 Edinburgh is easily access by a network of airlines, travelling to around 130 worldwide motorways and trunk roads, chiefly the M74, A1 and destinations. Only 12km from the city centre, it’s A68 from the south and the M8 from the west. The served by excellent bus, tram and taxi services that M9 and M90 head north. Edinburgh’s bus station link directly to the town. More information from on St Andrews Square connects to all the major edinburghairport.com. cities in Britain. More information on bus services from nationalexpress.com. Rail Edinburgh station is linked to all the UK’s major cities and airports. A high-speed link to London takes just over four hours. The Eurostar service connects to Paris in around eight hours. There are trains to major cities across the UK, as well as to Scotland’s favourite tourist destinations. More information from nationalrailenquiries.co.uk. 24 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh
Where to stay Welcome to a good night’s sleep
There are tens of thousands of bedrooms in and At the top end, Edinburgh has six luxurious 5 star around Edinburgh. More than half of them are hotels, delivering world-class service, attention within an easy walk of the city centre and the main to detail and every possible comfort. Many 4 conference venues. Which means you and your and 3 star hotels, including stylish boutique delegates have the simplest possible way of getting hotels, ofer excellent value for money and great from A to B. accommodation.
Even those hotels, guest houses or B&Bs outwith Convention Edinburgh can secure rates and the city centre are only a short taxi ride away, so allocations from hotels, apartments and campus you’re never far from your venue, your evening accommodation for you and provide an online reception and your social events. accommodation booking service for you, your delegates, speakers and VIP’s. For delegates on a restricted budget, university campus accommodation and smart new budget Below you will find indicative rates for 2020. hotels and hostels ofer outstanding facilities right at the heart of the city.
STAR RATING INDICATIVE RATES FOR JULY 2020 5 STAR £180 - £240 4 STAR £125 - £180 3 STAR £90 - £120 SERVICED APARTMENTS - 1,2 & 3 BEDROOMS £85 - £280 ROOM ONLY conventionedinburgh.com 25
“ Edinburgh is an experienced conference location, and an extremely attractive venue for the participants.”
Professor Keith McEwan, University College London International Conference on Neutron Scattering, July 2013 26 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh conventionedinburgh.com 27
Conference venues Finding the right venue for your event
Getting the venue right is the key to a great event. If there’s anything else you’d like to know about As well as purpose-built, state-of-the-art conference conferencing facilities, or about how we can support venues with all possible mod cons, Edinburgh you, please don’t hesitate to contact us on ofers opportunities for an event that’ll really stand +44 (0) 131 473 3666. out. The Zoo, the Castle, Dynamic Earth and the National Galleries – along with dozens of other alternative venues, they’ll provide a conference setting no-one will ever forget.
Wherever you hold your event, you can expect the very highest levels of service, support and expertise. The following pages contain outline information about dozens of our venues, from the grandeur of Edinburgh Castle to the uniquely atmospheric Edinburgh Caves. 28 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh
After hours Edinburgh – keeping you entertained
When a walk round the city takes you from the Must-sees: medieval to the modern day, Edinburgh doesn’t • Edinburgh Castle is visible from almost every main seem to need additional attractions. Nevertheless, street in the city centre. Explore it at any time, or it has plenty. Here are just a few: hire it out for an unforgettable evening event. • The Zoo is only a short bus ride from the city Food and drink centre. Private guided tours or daytime and With more restaurants per head of population evening events are available. than any other UK city, and more Michelin-starred • Scotland’s Parliament building, at the bottom of restaurants than any UK city outside London, the Royal Mile, is open to visitors all year round, Edinburgh knows how to whet the visitor’s appetite. except when Parliament is in recess. Guided tours are free of charge. Out and about • The Royal Yacht Britannia is one of the UK’s top There’s no better way to learn about Edinburgh’s tourist attractions. Berthed at Leith Docks, it’s ancient past than one of the walking tours that available for corporate events, evening receptions operate year-round. The city’s ghosts will guide you and guided group tours. – private tours are available on request. There’s so much to see and do that the only problem might be fitting it all in. Find out more – and plan your visit – at thisisedinburgh.com. conventionedinburgh.com 29
“ Convention Edinburgh… allowed the organizing committee to focus on the science.”
Professor Gary Entrican, Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park 4th European Veterinary Immunology Workshop, September 2012 30 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh conventionedinburgh.com 31
Edinburgh and Scotland Take a tour
Before your conference starts, or after it ends, your Try a wee dram delegates might like to spend some time getting to Whisky enthusiasts will enjoy a unique taste of know Scotland. Edinburgh is a great place to start. Scotland on one of the many distillery tours. They’ll find for themselves the diference between Speyside Both the Old and New Towns are UNESCO World and Highland malts, the rich, smoky peatiness of Heritage Sites, with their ancient wynds and closes, Islay whiskies and the zesty, floral ‘Lowland Ladies’. cobbled streets, glorious cathedrals and elegant Specialist tours operate all over Scotland, and are a Georgian terraces. There are various bus and must for true aficionados. walking tours across the city that highlight the main attractions – and uncover some of its hidden secrets. Play a round Scotland is the home of golf, so there’s nowhere North, South, East and West better to practice your putting when you have the North of Edinburgh you’ll find Perth and Inverness, chance. With 14 outstanding courses in Edinburgh both gateways to Scotland’s unique Highland alone, and hundreds more across the country, culture. South there’s the rolling hills and sweeping there’s no shortage of opportunity. Specialist tour glens of the Scottish Borders. In the East are the operators ofer packages that’ll get you right into the glorious beaches of Gullane, North Berwick and swing of things. Belhaven. And to the West is Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city, well worth a visit in itself. Scotland has a lot to ofer. It’s a small country, but it packs a lot in. And taking an easy drive, or booking Head for the Highlands one of the many tours available, is a great way to Take a train from either of Edinburgh’s main stations sample the best of it. and you’ll soon find yourself in a very diferent landscape. Rugged mountains, ruined castles, mysterious lochs and deep pine forests – it’s another world entirely. Some tour operators run special excursions taking in the main attractions – it’s worth a look at visitscotland.com before you go. 32 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh conventionedinburgh.com 33 34 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh
Appendix 1 – Your venue Your event at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre
When you hold an event in Edinburgh, you can If there’s anything else you’d like to know about expect the very highest levels of service, support conferencing facilities in Edinburgh, or about how and expertise. we can support you, please don’t hesitate to contact us on +44 (0) 131 473 3666. The purpose-built Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) ofers outstanding facilities and technology, as well as an experienced events team to support you. Since opening in 1995, it has welcomed more than a million delegates to over 2,500 events.
The following pages provide some information about how they can help you make your event a complete success. You’ll find more on the website at eicc.co.uk. conventionedinburgh.com 35 36 · An invitation from the heart of the City of Edinburgh
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