Scotland isn’t just the land of lochs and breathtaking scenery. Its major cities serve as bustling business hubs regularly hosting the world’s leading professional innovators and industry leaders. In fact, Scotland hosted over 282 association events in
2022-2023
.From award-winning contemporary business convention centres to baronial estates—it’s easy to see why it’s such a hotbed of corporate meeting venues. Scotland mixes the modern with the historical, giving business travellers the chance to experience both.In this article, we’re touring you through the top ten corporate meeting venues in Scotland you’ll want on your shortlist. But first, let’s clarify what you should look for when sourcing your ideal venue.What to look for when sourcing a venue in Scotland
Finding the right venue involves juggling several factors. The basics: the venue must accommodate the right number of attendees and have suitable meeting spaces with the right equipment and facilities. What some travel planners forget: the location should also have good transport links and sufficient parking if required.If you’re hosting a drinks reception or a conference of several days, it’s important to think about food and beverage options, as well as accommodation. The overall cost, (important to keep an eye out for hidden fees) will also determine your venue hire.The venue you ultimately pick will be determined by the type of event you’re hosting. Some of the events companies hold at corporate meeting venues might include:
- Meetings with clients or customers: a meeting venue can provide a professional setting creating a positive impression and helping to build constructive relationships
- Internal meetings or training sessions: an external venue can provide a neutral location for team meetings or training sessions, supporting productive discussions and encouraging participation
- Conferencing or events: the right space can provide the facilities required for larger-scale hybrid events such as seminars, lectures or product launches
- Team building activities: the ideal location for off-site training or group activities, helping to develop team cohesion and boost morale.
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TravelPerk's Meetings & Events team can help you book venues and get exclusive discounts on group travel
Have you got a clear picture of what your next event venue needs to include? Good. Let’s move on to Scotland’s top 10 corporate meeting venues that go above and beyond.
The top 10 corporate meeting venues in Scotland
We’ve conducted research to bring you a list of unique, world-class corporate event venues from Scotland. Each venue is renowned for either its cutting-edge event technology or cultural significance and amenities. To make the decision easier, we’ve also outlined the cost, capacity, and location of each venue.
1. The Edinburgh Conference Centre: a cutting-edge venue for big meetings
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Located right in the heart of Edinburgh, the EICC is considered by many to be one of Europe’s most technologically advanced meetings and events space. It’s within walking distance of Scotland’s most famous hotels and a mere six miles away from the Edinburgh Airport.The EICC boasts a total of 16 event spaces including
moving floor technology
complete with 55-feet turntables and an auditorium and arena mode for a wide variety of corporate meeting types. Sleek, cutting-edge and contemporary, this corporate gathering venue is a big place for discussing even bigger ideas with your team.- Location: Edinburgh
- Capacity: 2000
- Cost: £££
2. Melville Castle: luxury corporate meetings in a historical landmark
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What professional hasn’t dreamt of holding a business meeting in a castle? Nestled just seven miles from Edinburgh on a 54-acre estate, you’ll find the luxurious Melville Castle; an idyllic place to hold an unforgettable corporate meeting or off-site. The venue has four main meeting rooms, private dining rooms, and a marquee available for dinners.Besides being an architectural example of Scottish heritage, Melville Castle also comes with various accommodation and amenity add-ons for your meeting participants; including refreshments, overnight rooms, and team-building events.
- Location: Edinburgh
- Capacity: 100 guests for meetings, up to 72 guests for overnight stays
- Cost: ££££
3. Aberdeen Art Gallery: a vibrant, cultural backdrop for corporate meetings
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The Aberdeen Art Gallery proves you don’t need to choose between a historic or contemporary backdrop for your next corporate meeting. With a collection of the country’s finest artwork spanning seven centuries, the Aberdeen Art Gallery blends both for a unique meeting experience to serve all tastes.Some of the gallery’s features include a sculpture court, balcony and cafe, seminar room and a theatre. It’s located just six and a half miles from Aberdeen Airport, making it a convenient conference venue for business travellers flying in.
- Location: Aberdeen
- Capacity: 500
- Cost: £££
4. Glasgow Science Centre: a meeting space with interactive entertainment
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With over 14 diverse spaces, the Glasgow Science Centre can accommodate a wide range of business meeting types. The 400 interactive exhibitions make it a perfect place for entertaining guests after a long day of corporate activities.It’s also located on the Clyde waterfront, the place where the charming old town meets the modern city, allowing your team members to explore Glasgow in all its glory. The closest airport is eight miles away, making it a convenient venue for participants flying in from elsewhere.
- Location: Glasgow
- Capacity: 650
- Cost: £££
5. The Merchants House of Glasgow: great for small meetings in the middle of Glasgow
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The Merchants House isn’t just any old meeting space. It was founded in 1605 as a charitable institution to support and promote trade and commerce, playing a foundational role in making Glasgow a commercial centre. Today, this traditional meeting space attracts business professionals from around the world.The Merchants House is less than a one-minute walk from Queen Street Railway and directly adjacent to George Square. It’s considered a grand example of Victorian architecture with its ornate meeting rooms and grand hall, perfect to give your meetings an authentically Scottish flair.
- Location: Glasgow
- Capacity: 340
- Cost: ££
6. P&J Live Conference Centre: an environmentally friendly meeting space for large teams
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With 48,000 square metres of state-of-the-art, multi-purpose event space, there’s no shortage of room at P&J Live for your upcoming corporate meetings. Besides boasting 11 meeting rooms, seven conference suites, and three exhibition halls, P&J Live is also environmentally friendly with its own energy centre using renewable sources to produce an energy ecosystem.The P&J Live event complex also includes two on-site hotels including the 4-star Hilton and the Aloft Hotel. Getting there won’t be tedious for business travellers either, the Aberdeen International Airport is right next door.
- Location: Aberdeen
- Capacity: 15,000
- Cost: ££££
7. Carnegie Conference Centre: a venue with extensive technical support
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Affordable, easy to access, and first-class service, the Carnegie Conference Centre has a range of specialised rooms for meetings, interviews and conferences. It’s located eighteen miles from Edinburgh’s city centre, just off the M90 motorway.But excellent meeting spaces aren’t the only thing this event venue offers. You can also book their experienced digital service technicians to ensure your live stream, conference call and presentations run smoothly.
- Location: Edinburgh
- Capacity: 300
- Cost: ££
8. Edinburgh Leith: a flexible, open space for smaller teams
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If you like your corporate meeting venues with an industrial backdrop, look no further than the Edinburgh Leith. Nestled within Edinburgh, central Scotland, this open-plan office space was once a bonded warehouse. Now, it boasts private offices, boardrooms, and a club lounge complete with breakout rooms and meeting space.It also comes with multiple amenities to ensure your meeting mates are comfortable throughout the whole experience. At the Edinburgh Leith, you have access to a dedicated support team, a cafe, secure and super fast WiFi onsite parking, and collaboration technology.
- Location: Edinburgh
- Capacity: 15
- Cost: ££
9. Òran Mór: a converted parish for unique corporate meetings and events
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Just across Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens, you’ll find one of Scotland’s most unique venues for private, cultural, and corporate events. Formerly Kelvinside Parish Church, Òran Mór (ancient Gaelic for “the great melody of life”) has multiple spaces where teams can meet, collaborate, and celebrate their achievements.Most notable is the auditorium, a multi-purpose event space with a celestial ceiling mural considered to be one of Scotland’s largest pieces of public art. Besides breathtaking meeting rooms, Òran Mór offers exclusive-use private dining spaces and banqueting, a bar, and dedicated kitchen staff.
- Location: Glasgow
- Capacity: 400
- Cost: £££
10. Murrayshall Country House Hotel and Golf Club: a venue for stylish meetings and corporate getaways
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Corporate meetings don’t get more stylish than the Murrayshall Country House. With five meeting rooms, golf courses, and luxury accommodation, there’s no shortage of amenities to guarantee both a productive and enjoyable corporate experience.Murryshall is located on a 365-acre estate in the Perthshire countryside, making it the perfect place for teams to get away from the hum-drum of office life.
- Location: Perthshire
- Capacity: 200
- Cost: £££
Start planning your corporate event in Scotland with TravelPerk
Scotland has plenty of sterling corporate event spaces on offer. From castle estates to contemporary co-working spaces, there’s a venue that can suit any organisation or meeting type.But choosing the perfect venue is only the start of your Scottish adventure. You still need to structure your session, organise corporate travel, and work out your budget to ensure your next corporate meeting goes down well with attendees and Finance. You don’t have to go at it alone. TravelPerk can help you organise, book, and manage your event, saving you time, effort and endless to-do lists.
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