Chief executive of Edinburgh International Conference Centre quits amid conflict and criticism

THE CHIEF executive of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) has suddenly quit after 10 years at the helm, following conflict with the city council. 

Marshall Dallas submitted his resignation during a board meeting yesterday. 

Dallas came to be at odds with the council in September, when plans for a four-star hotel at Haymarket were shelved. 

Councillors were also left outraged after he received a bonus of over £72,000 in 2023, the highest awarded by any local authority. 

The EICC is owned by the council, but operated as an arm’s length venture, with the two parties in business together but acting independently. 

Bosses had long argued that a lack of nearby hotel space affected its ability to attract larger conferences to the capital. 

However, the main contractor and development partner both pulled out of the project earlier this year, following the council’s refusal to make changes to the contract over an insurance policy. 

The EICC complained that it had no input on the decision and was restricted access to reports. 

It also claimed that the Edinburgh Convention Bureau, an additional company set up to attract more business events, was refused funding by councillors. 

Dallas warned of potential legal action from hotel group Hyatt for failing to meet their contractual obligations and being sued for damages of up to £2m a year. 

In April 2024, he topped the so-called “Town Hall Rich List” after receiving a bonus of £72,280 on top of his £158,711 salary. 

At nearly double the second-highest bonus on the list, the eye-watering sum was £37,000 more than Andrew Kerr, the recently retired chief executive of the city council. 

It was reportedly awarded based on delivering key criteria regarding the hotel but came after the local authority suffered an £80m budget cut. 

The situation attracted opposing views from local councillors, with Labour’s Lezley Marion-Cameron, the EICC chair, praising the economic benefits to the city. 

However, council leader Cammy Day said he “did not agree” with such bonuses in arm’s length companies. 

Local SNP MP Tommy Sheppard slammed the council for not being aware of how such payments could be received. 

In a statement to the Edinburgh Reporter, Dallas said leading the EICC had been the “highlight” of his career and praised the staff and partners he had worked alongside. 

He listed turning around the business’ losses and rebounding following the pandemic as stand-out moments he is proud of.