headquarters Destination Report England

is a special edition of

Headquarters Magazine -

June 2013Published by Meeting Media Company (Europe) www.headquartersmagazine.com - press@headquartersmagazine.com

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Leeds is one of England’s hippest cities and a great place to do busi-ness, established as a major financial and legal centre in England.

Post-industrial Manchester has reinvented itself as a truly contemporary metropolis.

Liverpool is famous for its historical waterfront, its music heritage and culture, it emerges as a leading conference destination in England.

England’s second city in the heart of England, Birmingham is multicultural and delights visitors with its modern architecture and shopping facilities.

Bristol mixes its rich maritime heritage with contemporary, alternative culture.

Oxford is an enchanting university city with unique architecture that offers an inspirational backdrop for events.

Bournemouth is renowned for its seven miles of sandy beaches and is an ideal place to relax after a conference.

Industrial and innovative, Sheffield is a vibrant city surrounded by peaceful countryside

englandHost of excellence always on the moveAs favoured host to many large events of interest to an international audience, England has showcased its ability with the recent London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Diamond Jubilee. With sporting events coming up including the Rugby World Cup in 2015, the World Athletics Championship in 2017 and the Cricket World Cup in 2019, England continues to be under the spotlight. Constantly on the move, England is easily one of the most accessible European destinations for association events and Headquarters talks to Lesley Williamson, Regional Manager for Northern Europe to find out what is in the loop.

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Nottingham’s legendary past, famous nightlife and sophisticated urban landscape make it an enviable destination.

From the historic waterfront of Hull to the towering cliffs of the Heritage coast, from vibrant seaside resorts to tranquil Yorkshire Wolds country side, few destinations can offer such an array of locations for events.

Cambridge is a world-renowned centre of academic excellence which is steeped in history and culture.

London is a cosmopolitan vibrant capital city which is easy to meet in and impossible to forget.

Brighton is a buzzing seaside resort compact, unique and fun and is one of the most colourful and creative cities in Europe.

Combining the best of two dynamic cities, NewcastleGateshead has been voted UK’s ‘friendliest’ place.

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Lesley Williamson

HQ: VisitEngland recently announced international boost to grow business tourism. Can you tell us more about this? Lesley Williamson: VisitEngland, the national tourist board, is expanding its international network to focus on bringing more business events to England over the next 10 years. The organisation is building on its presence overseas to cover the regions of Central, Northern and Southern Europe, USA & Canada and Asia to work on behalf of the tourist board’s destination partners in England and offer advice and support for international association events.

Our focus is professional conference organisers, MICE agents and international associations from a wide range of sectors including: life sciences, advanced engineering, creative & media, defence and security, energy, medical and pharmaceutical, financial services and technology.

HQ: It feels like there is a growing demand for England, and that as a consequence major developments are taking place. Any highlights you would like to share?Lesley Williamson: The Olympics have been a fantastic showcase for our country and captured the attention of the whole world. The success of the London 2012 Olympics is truly a springboard for England’s business event industry and it is no wonder more and more organisations are looking closely at regional cities like Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, Oxford, Cambridge, Nottingham, Hull or Bristol as conference destinations of excellence.

Our strategy is determined by England’s key economic sectors and provides a compelling draw for international companies and associations to hold their meetings, congresses, incentives and other events in England.

Consequently we are very optimistic and when you think about other global industries, there are very few predicted to grow as fast as the meeting industry. Globalization has opened up the world. More and more organisations want to travel to England, to experience new cities outside of London, to benefit from the excellence of our research and universities.

HQ: How does England cater to international associations and what is the added value?Lesley Williamson: Well first of all, England is a centre of excellence for academic studies and throughout the country there are many first class universities with international links in research in most subjects. Cambridge and Oxford are of course the oldest and most highly regarded in the world and a conference in the historical colleges with a dinner in one of the atmospheric halls is very attractive to delegates. Many sectors of expertise are led by English Universities and the tremendous diversity of England is a major draw.

Secondly, the regeneration and vibrancy of our post-industrial cities enhance the country’s attractiveness as a convention destination and there has been considerable investment in meetings facilities in England over recent years. Cities and resorts have spent millions of pounds constructing purpose-built conference centres or renovating existing halls to meet expectations of international associations.

Finally, conferences attract hundreds to thousands of delegates, from many countries and often include tourism add-ons for delegates. Historic yet contemporary, traditional yet cutting-edge, metropolitan, England is truly a unique destination for tourism and wherever you organise an event you can be assured that there is a wealth of heritage, traditions and culture to be experienced by delegates.

HQ: As the Regional Manager for Northern Europe based in Brussels, where thousands of international and European Associations are head­quartered, what is on your agenda? Lesley Williamson: Our new office in Brussels is indeed strategically located and with conventions, congresses and meetings on the rise as the pace of international business accelerates, I am tremendously enthusiastic about the response we have had so far from the association network.

Joined by Hannah Longman, our new Sales Manager for Northern Europe a few weeks ago, we have started, I think, with an honest and open relationship with associations and therefore a key aspect of leadership involves careful attention to human motivation. We have set about developing new partnerships with the likes of airlines and business operators to collaborate. Hannah and I, as well as our colleagues in other parts of the world, are always on hand to advise on venue facilities, transport and logistics to deliver memorable events for overseas visitors.

CoNtACts

Lesley WilliamsonRegional Manager Northern Europelesley.williamson@visitengland.org

Brice CicconettiRegional Manager Southern Europe & Brazilbrice.cicconetti@visitengland.org

Reem KhokharRegional Manager – Asia Pacific reem.khokhar@visitengland.org

www.meetengland.com

Boosting Businesstourism in englandA talk with Lesley Williamson

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> Cambridge

First the big news, from September 2013 the dynamics of Cambridge as an associa-tion meetings destination will be enhanced with daily flights between the city’s airport and Amsterdam, Geneva, Paris and Milan. Already well connected by rail and road to the London airports, the new routes make it easier for delegates travelling from Europe, they could be sat in a conference within minutes of landing!

ENtHRALLINgIt is hard not to be enthralled when you first arrive in Cambridge. In addition to being so very easy to navigate, so very green with expansive parks, tree-lined avenues and of course the beautiful college gardens, Cambridge has inspired many of the World’s greatest minds for centuries. With almost every step visitors can uncover an historical episode, or discover a building that houses

the secret of a world-changing discovery. An outstanding 89 Nobel Prize winners are affiliated with the University and the history is tangible.

Cambridge is renowned for the University and its 31 undergraduate Colleges, home to 6,000 academics and 18,000 students, but it also has another university, Anglia Ruskin University, which has a student population of 31,000 split over its two campuses.

Today, Cambridge is a city of innovation embracing entrepreneurial spirit and ground-breaking research. It is home to Europe’s leading commercial biomedical cluster with a community of over 7000 research scien-tists; Europe’s oldest and most prestigious science park, The Cambridge Science Park lies within its boundary and the area around the city, dubbed Silicon Fen, is home to a

large number of high-technology compa-nies focusing on software, electronics and biotechnology.

One word about the size of Cambridge - it is compact! Judith, of Conference Cambridge, explains why this is an advantage: ‘Cambridge is small - you can walk from side to side in less than 30 minutes and venues are close to one another. If an event needs more than one venue, delegates can move about easily, they get to see and experience the whole city - the city becomes the venue!’

In terms of numbers, the ideal size for a resi-dential conference at the University and the Colleges is 500 while the city’s largest single venue can seat up to 1,500. In the vacation periods 7,500 bedrooms are available for residential events complementing the city’s 3,000 hotel beds.

CamBridgeGet academic!If Cambridge and Oxford are the top English destinations for prestigious academia, Cambridge stands out as the quintessential one, maybe the most beautiful, with history radiating from its well-preserved buildings and a convention bureau, aptly called Conference Cambridge, on hand to help you deliver a successful event.

Case study RoyAL ECoNoMIC soCIEty INtERNAtIoNAL CoNfERENCE 2012When : 26-28 March 2012Who: Royal Economic Society, 500 delegatesWhere : Robinson College, West Road Concert Hall, Clare College, Downing College, Gonville and Caius College, Faculty of English

The Royal Economic Society brings together economists from government, industry, higher education, the financial sector and journal-ism from all over the world. 2012 marked the first time the RES Conference was held in Cambridge and the first time the event had been held at multiple venues, a plenary venue for 500 delegates was required, as well as 20 parallel sessions (all needed to be recorded with live video relay for the delegate overflow). The Conference Gala Dinner for 500 was held at two separate venues, and around 400 of the delegates required accommodation.

Delegates enjoyed the opportunity to walk between venues and appreciate the whole ‘Cambridge Experience’. Thirty postgraduate students from the Cambridge Faculty of Economics worked on the event. All the teams worked well together and regular team brief-ings were held in the lead-up and during the event. Conference Cambridge coordinated all the venue teams throughout the event and were on-site on each day of the conference.

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> Cambridge

CoLLEgEs ANd CoLLEgEsDuring my way too short visit there, I got a good idea of what’s on offer in terms of venues and accommodation, here’s a snapshot…

Set in spacious grounds and close to the new Biomedical Campus, Homerton College combines classic and modern buildings. Its Victorian Dining Hall offers a memorable dining experience, while its 28 meeting rooms for up to 300 people (as well as 517 en suite bedrooms) cater for events of all types.In the city centre, st John’s College is awe-inspiring. The 16th and 17th century courts blend with contemporary buildings and even a gothic court! One of the largest colleges, it breathes serenity and space, the perfect combination for a meeting of up to 300. Accommodation is also available for 250 during the University’s vacation periods.

Robinson College, the youngest of the Cambridge Colleges, was purpose built for conferences. The consistency of the place (and the fact it boasts a dedicated event team) is also a draw, its redbrick-layered buildings are set around stunning land-scaped gardens. The College can host a conference for up to 270, the same for a gala dinner and accommodation.

Located a five minute walk from the centre, West Road Concert Hall offers an audi-torium for up to 499, a large, bright Foyer, ideal for exhibitions, registration, network-ing and catering, as well as a variety of flexible meeting rooms.

The University Centre also has a number of rooms suitable for receptions and meet-ings for up to 200 delegates. At its top, you can dine at The Riverside Restaurant with amazing views over the river.

My personal favorite was Cambridge Union society. Founded in 1815, it is home to the second oldest student debating society in the UK. Recent guest speak-ers have included the Dalai Lama, Ronald Reagan, John Major and Pamela Anderson! Its beautiful Debating Chamber can sit up to 270 people, whilst other rooms such as the Keynes Library offer smaller, more inti-mate spaces, for board meetings or dining.

Finally, a few words about the Cambridge City Hotel, which enjoys a prime location next to the Grand Arcade shopping mall and within walking distance of the Colleges. The hotel has recently announced a major transformation project, which will see every one of its 198 en suite bedrooms completely refurbished.

No visit to Cambridge is complete without a chauffeured punt tour (which I was lucky enough to experience thanks to the experts, Scudamores) - a unique and leisurely way to see the famous College Backs and the perfect way to unwind after a busy day!

CoNtACtJudith SloaneDeputy ManagerConference Cambridgeenquiries@conferencecambridge.comT. +44 (0)1223 768740www.conferencecambridge.com

West Road Concert Hall Homerton College, Great Hall

St John’s College

Riverside Restaurant

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> Hull & East Yorkshire

A soURCE of INspIRAtIoNHalfway between London and Edinburgh on England’s east coast, Hull & East Yorkshire is the hidden gem in Yorkshire’s crown, just two and a half hours by train from London and only 30 minutes drive from Humberside International Airport. Hull also benefits from overnight ferry links with Zeebrugge and Rotterdam.

Hull & East Yorkshire might well represent the perfect combination of history, seaside experience and scenic countryside, but its industries are also something to shout about. As home to the headquarters of healthcare giants Smith & Nephew and Reckitt Benckiser, and to a new £70m Oncology and Haematology Centre, Hull has strong foundations in the fields of med-ical research and healthcare. The chemical industry is hugely important in Hull & East Yorkshire, representing one of the most established areas of chemical production in the UK.

Home to some big names in the energy industry, the Hull and Humber region is set to become a world-class renewable energy

hub. Designated by the UK government as a ‘Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy’ and located close to three of the largest offshore wind zones, Hull plays an important role in the nation’s advances in renewable energy and research on tidal technologies, biofuels and biomass. Pioneering projects include the world ‘s first facility to produce energy from food waste, construction of some of the UK ‘s largest off shore wind farms and the first marine renewable device to supply power to the UK mainland National Grid.

Already, Hull & East Yorkshire has seen an upsurge in renewable related conferences, recently welcoming delegates attend-ing the 18th International Sustainable Development Research Conference, the North Sea Offshore Wind Conference and the Sustainable Control of Offshore Wind Turbines workshop. Let’s not forget either that Hull & Humber has the busiest ports complex in the UK and the 4th largest trad-ing estuary in Europe. Hull is not short of connections for associations willing to link their topic to the expertise of their meeting destination.

VENUEs foR AssoCIAtIoNsOn my swift trip to Hull, I was fortunate enough to visit some of the facilities for associations. The largest is Bridlington spa, which can seat up to 1,700 people theatre style. The Hull City Hall accommodates up to 1,208 delegates and the guildhall, headquarters of the City Council, also serves for conferences and formal dinners with its beautiful historic halls, rooms and chambers. 

Hull truck theatre is a large, newly-built venue that presents high-quality drama productions, but which can also be used for conferences and events. Its main audi-torium has a maximum capacity of 440, a smaller auditorium seats 134 people as well as several other meeting rooms available.

hull & east YorkshireAn Urban Oasisin the Yorkshire WoldsLet’s be honest… before arriving in Hull & East Yorkshire, a little known corner of England’s largest county, I was unsure what to expect. To my great surprise, I discovered an original destination with plenty of options for demanding association planners in quest of ‘out of the box’ ideas. This dynamic and fast-changing city, set in the beautiful rolling tranquil countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds, boasts an array of  venues for conferences and events, a vibrant marina and excellent facilities to cater for groups and delegations of all sizes. 

Humber Bridge

Hull Truck Theatre

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testimonial WHy HULL & EAst yoRKsHIREEd Fitzgerald, President of the Association of Surgeons in Training, explains why Hull & East Yorkshire were selected to host the organisation’s annual conference:

‘The Association of Surgeons in Training chose Hull & East Yorkshire as our conference destination for a number of reasons. The most important factor in this was the HEY Conferences team. From a clear and infor-mative bid, through to organising tours of potential venues, we were impressed by their support, local knowledge and enthusiasm for hosting our conference. We needed a team that could support and work with us and we found that in Hull and East Yorkshire.’

‘However, that alone would not have been sufficient without suitable venues, and we found in Hull and East Yorkshire the venues that perfectly suited our medium-sized event. Add into this the excellent value offered by venues and local hotels, the central UK location together with good transport links and we were convinced that Hull and East Yorkshire was the right place for us.’

> Hull & East Yorkshire

the deep is an architectural icon in Hull and, as the name suggests, is one of the world’s deepest aquariums, boasting a stunning mix of aquaria, interactivity, extraordinary film footage and live demonstrations. The Deep is available for exclusive hire, the Observatory is ideal for drinks receptions and the Endless Oceans Gallery, with its formidable aquatic displays, can host 250 guests for spectacular gala dinners.

For residential conferences, I would recom-mend the Hallmark Hotel or the Mercure Royal Hotel and just on the outskirts of Hull, forest pines Hotel & golf Resort.

With views of the Humber Bridge, the Hallmark combines business and leisure like no other. Its 95 contemporary rooms and suites nicely complement its meet-ing rooms for up to 200 delegates, all with natural daylight. Plentiful free parking, spa-cious public areas and a professional team also add to the Hallmark’s appeal.

Where Queen Victoria once stayed, the Mercure Royal Hotel mixes contemporary décor with the beautiful original Victorian structure. Literally next door to the train sta-tion (you can actually see it from the restau-rant, it is like you are having breakfast with passengers on the platform, quite a unique feeling!) it boasts 155 ensuite bedrooms and can cater for 400 conference delegates.

The only facility in the area with a purpose built Event Centre, forest pines Hotel & golf Resort is a premier conference venue cum four star hotel with a golf course

nestled in 190 acres of mature woodland. In addition to 188 well-appointed spacious bedrooms, the resort can accommodate up to 370 theatre style, with a profes-sional events team on hand to help.

Cave Castle Hotel & Country Club is a beautiful castellated manor house hotel with health spa, golf course, large gardens and meeting rooms for up to 200 delegates. I would also recommend Beverley tickton grange, a three star Georgian country house hotel with an excellent reputation for comfort, service and superb food in the award winning restaurant. For quality venues offering great value for money, out-standing locations in a friendly destination with a bright future, Hull and East Yorkshire is an ideal place for conferences and events.

Finding the right venue and event support is easy in Hull with the convention bureau’s  dedicated, experienced and knowledge-able team to provide a total event support service and  help with booking rooms, negotiating discounts or expert advice on venues. Services include impartial venue finding, inspection visits, accommodation services, registration service, sponsor-ship, social programme planning as well as marketing and public relations support.  

CoNtACtEllie GarmstonHull & East Yorkshire Conferencesellie.garmston@vhey.co.ukT: +44 (0)1482 486600www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com/conference

Bridlington Spa

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> NewcastleGateshead

newCastlegatesheadRegenerated Crème de North

Diverse and ambitious NewcastleGateshead is ultra-modern, the most recent addition to the iconic set of bridges that span the Tyne in the city centre being the Gateshead Millennium Bridge commissioned by the council to commemorate the millennium and link new developments on either side of the river, including the gallery at Baltic, the old flour mill.

Aesthetically speaking, NewcastleGateshead is a gem: traditional Georgian architecture squares up to modern icons like Anthony Gormley’s Angel of the North, while con-temporary art sits happily alongside neo-classical treasures like Grainger Town. Old buildings, relics of the region’s powerful industrial legacy, have been transformed into imaginative meeting venues and prestigious museums. If you are looking for a good example of how urban regen-eration can create a formidable cityscape, NewcastleGateshead’s rebirth is all thanks to the visionary spirit of reinvention that has gripped the region for the past decade.

REgIoNAL RENoWNNewcastleGateshead has a track record of pulling off major international meet-ings, and is particularly popular among planners of medical, scientific and engi-neering conferences. This is thanks to the area’s academic prowess as well as a par-ticularly strong Ambassador Programme. In fact, most universities and colleges feature rooms that can be hired for meet-ings, including Gateshead College and Northumbria University for large-scale, flexible spaces that are perfect for events.

Included on the honour roll of organ-isations who have previously had the pleasure to host in NewcastleGateshead are the European Society for Paediatric Research and the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies. The European Academy of Childhood Disability, the International Ethological Conference, the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (Behaviour 2013), and the International Colour Association will also

be flocking to NewcastleGateshead in 2013. The Convention Bureau also has events lined up as far ahead as 2018.

On a lighter note, you might have heard that NewcastleGateshead is a top spot for shop-ping and partying, or perhaps heard about its pure-bred passion for sport (Newcastle United, anyone?) But one of the things that make the people of NewcastleGateshead most proud is a legendary reputation for friendliness; recent surveys have called it the UK’s ‘friendliest city’ and delegates comment on being charmed by that famously warm Geordie welcome.

With a compact centre that’s easy to navi-gate, an abundance of hotels catering to every budget and a robust transport net-work, it is no surprise NewcastleGateshead has turned into one of Europe’s most dynamic conference destinations.

Those with a sharp memory might remember Newcastle back in the 1970s with the huge arched bridges, redbrick mills and stubby distillery and industrial chimneys. Nestled in the North East corner of England, Newcastle and Gateshead are now stitched together by seven unique bridges that cross the River Tyne to form a remarkable conference destination. It is a place where stunning architecture and 2,000 years of history meet world-class facilities, where fantastic travel links meet a compact destination that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

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> NewcastleGateshead

ALL yoU CAN MEEtsage gateshead dominates the skyline of NewcastleGateshead’s Quayside and is likely to be the first thing to catch your attention. The Sage is Gateshead’s ultra modern, futuristic, purpose built arts, music and conference venue. Standing loftily on the banks of the river this city icon, designed by acclaimed architect Sir Norman Foster, it is also a community space buzz-ing with the constant hubbub of its myriad of visitors. Facilities include two auditoria, two large multipurpose rooms, a skylit con-course, a café, a number of bars, restaurants and a foyer with views over the River Tyne, all for a maximum of 1,700 delegates in a whopping 38 meeting rooms.

Host to the Turner Prize in 2011, BALtIC is NewcastleGateshead’s pre-eminent inter-national centre for contemporary art and the biggest gallery of its kind in the world. A converted grain warehouse, it sits on the south bank of the Tyne and features a number of spaces available for hire, includ-ing the River Terrace which includes a pri-vate outdoor balcony for intimate events like business breakfasts and seminars for up to 180 people theatre style. There is even a 54-seat cinema perfect for small-scale conferences.

In the city centre, the Assembly Rooms is one of the city’s oldest and grandest Georgian buildings and dates back to 1776. Replete with elaborate period features, the venue serves as an elegant setting for asso-ciation events with eight separate function suites, and can accommodate up to 920 delegates when the whole building is in use. The Assembly Rooms is in easy reach of all major roads and just a three-minute walk from Newcastle Central Station.

One of NewcastleGateshead’s most unusual conference venues, discovery Museum’s ‘The Great Hall’ is infused with a very special kind of atmosphere; it is a science museum that exhibits local historical artifacts including Turbinia, a ship of 34 metres long, built by Charles Algernon Parsons. This quirky venue boasts a banquet capacity of 300 with reception capacity of 400.

Built in the 60’s, Newcastle Civic Centre combines a splash of the old with a gener-ous modern twist, maintained to remain true to its original modernist glory. Whether for a gala dinner, a conference in the Council Chamber or a banquet for 450 in the Banqueting Hall, events held here are spectacular.

For the diehard sports aficionados, Newcastle United football Club also throws open its turnstiles for get-togethers. One of the finest stadiums in the world, St. James’ Park stands proud in the heart of the city centre and offers up a diverse selection of spaces, from function suites for six to executive boxes - with panoramic views of the pitch - for 50. And if you are after some-thing even bigger still, up to 1,000 delegates can be hosted in the Bamburgh Suite.

The best networking doesn’t always happen in a meeting room and for social pro-grammes, NewcastleGateshead has plenty of options for crucial moments of inspiration. It has one of the best surviving castle keeps in England and along with the 2000 year old Tynemouth Priory, confirms the region’s rich past. NewcastleGateshead has a wide offering of museums like the newly refur-bished and extended Great North Museum: Hancock and the Discovery Museum. Newcastle’s Theatre Royal is the Northern

home to the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Sunderland Empire provides world-class theatre to suit all tastes from West End productions to esoteric drama.

A key attraction of NewcastleGateshead’s compact centre is the ease with which you can slip away from urban life. You are just 10 minutes’ drive from the Northumberland countryside and the eastern tail of Hadrian’s Wall. Hadrian’s Wall is a stunning ‘necklace’ of Roman wall and forts across the north of England, and along with Durham Castle and Cathedral forms a pair of World Heritage sites found on NewcastleGateshead’s doorstep.

CoNtACtconventionbureau@ngi.org.ukwww.NewcastleGateshead.com/meet 

NEWCAstLEgAtEHEAd, tHE fAst fACts• getting there Newcastle International Airport is

located just 25 minutes from the heart of the city centre, with over 80 destinations and direct routes to major international hubs, including Dubai, Paris, Amsterdam and London, and London is 2 ¾ hours away by direct train.

• Largest capacity: 1,700 for a conference at Sage Gateshead

• Accommodation in city centre hotels Four-star hotels bedrooms: 1,635 Three-star hotels bedrooms: 2,228

• Newcastlegateshead Convention Bureau NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau

works closely with over 100 venues and suppliers across North East England. The Bureau offers free and impartial advice designed to facilitate hosting an event in NewcastleGateshead.

Sage Gateshead Newcastle Civic Centre

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> Nottingham

If you are looking to relive the legend of Robin Hood by visiting his old haunts, look no further you are in the right place! Nottingham brings to life the stories and tales of the man in green tights hiding in Sherwood Forest. Exploring Nottingham also means discovering a wealth of culture, heritage, shopping, sports and art and many options to host association events in unique venues up to 10,000 delegates.

gREEN CIty of sCIENCENottingham enjoys its reputation as a city of science and particularly as a green city. Its key industry sectors include pharma-ceuticals, biotechnology and creative indus-tries such as fashion and textiles, gaming, film and design. The city’s investment in a new Creative Quarter showcases its devel-opment in these key growth sectors.

Nottingham is a recognized academic

centre of knowledge and higher education. Home to two universities, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University excel in the fields of biotechnology, medicine, low carbon technologies, business and law, digital media, manufacturing, art and game design.

For social programmes to spice up business meetings, highlights of the city include famous sporting options such as Trent Bridge cricket ground and the National Ice Centre, the UK’s centre of excellence for ice sports. For evening entertainment, delegates can take a river cruise with the Nottingham Princess or enjoy the latest musicals, shows or theatre plays at the Royal Concert Hall, the Theatre Royal or Nottingham Playhouse.

Museums and galleries provide insights into the history and people of the city, including

the award-winning New Art Exchange and the Museum of Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard. Nottingham Contemporary is one of the major contemporary art spaces in the UK outside of London. The Galleries of Justice Museum, housed in a former 18th cen-tury prison offers a unique understanding into crime, punishment and British justice.

The city boasts a variety of venues for event organisers, many of which within the com-pact city centre. The historic grandeur of Nottingham Castle, the beautiful surrounds of Wollaton Hall and St Mary’s Church are just a few inspiring venues.

A professional conference and events team at Nottingham Event City is dedi-cated to support organisations in event and conference planning with expert local knowledge of services and venues. A com-mitment charter for excellence was recently launched to guarantee operators, venues, hotels and suppliers meet high standards of service.

A RANgE of UNIQUE VENUEsThe deVere East Midlands Conference Centre is a flexible venue located on the

Enjoying a rich legendary status thanks to its prominence in the tales of Robin Hood, Nottingham is a real-life wonder of a city in the heart of England. Thriving industry, research and science contribute to the appeal of Nottingham as an economic centre of excellence. The network of venues, hotels and businesses working collaboratively with the convention bureau makes a real difference when it comes to hosting an event in Nottingham. From a castle-turned-art gallery to the biggest seating capacity venues in town, we reveal our favorite haunts.

nottingham queen of the midlandsfit for meetingsand events

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Nottingham Conference Centre

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NottHINgHAM, tHE HARd fACts

• Centrallocation:East Midlands Airport, 30 minutes from the city centre, offers connections with mainland Europe. 1 hour 45 minutes from London St Pancras by train, Nottingham is easily reached by rail.

• Compactcitycentre: easily walkable city centre.

• Accommodation: a wide range of options from budget B&B to boutique hotels all within walking distance of the city centre venues. Hotels include Orchard Hotel, adjacent to the East Midlands Conference Centre, Lace Market Hotel in a former Georgian townhouse, and Hart’s Hotel nestled high on the ramparts of the medieval castle in a secluded and tranquil location

• Venues: from a 10,000 seat arena to unique heritage sites

• FreeservicesfromNottinghamEvent City include securing city-wide availability for events, organising site visits, providing shuttle services and sponsorship of receptions, on-line delegate booking services, and making connections with local businesses and academics

• fantastic night scene and sporting life, with an eclectic mix of entertainment options

> Nottingham

University Park Campus. A sculptured white stoned garden marks the entrance and a light-filled Atrium provides an integrated solution for meetings and events and can accommodate delegates from 10 up to 850.

A dedicated year-round facility, Nottingham Conference Centre in the heart of the city was designed for events of every size and format. Comprising ten air-conditioned conference rooms with fully supported high-spec audiovisual packages, Nottingham Conference Centre boasts an additional three event rooms stunning Victorian archi-tecture. Conference spaces include large tiered and flat floor lecture theatres for up to 450 delegates along with a range of flexible space breakout rooms. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the venue. A landmark of the city with its striking architecture, the Royal Concert Hall stages musicals, drama, dance, ballet, comedy, opera and classical, contemporary and pop music but also all kinds of association and corporate events. The Royal Concert Hall’s purpose-built 2,200 seat auditorium has world-class acoustics, high-quality tiered seating, lighting and in-house technical equipment. The versatility and size of its 206 m2 stage provides the perfect platform for speakers and presentations.  Set to host the Ashes in both 2013 and 2015, the world-famous trent Bridge Cricket ground underwent extensive refurbishments in 2011 and makes quite

an impression - not just on cricket fans. The home of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the finest cricket venues across the globe. With a variety of meeting rooms up to 250 delegates can be hosted. All the rooms offer views across the cricket ground, adding this extra touch to capture the historical atmosphere of the place.

The Capital fM Arena has a highly flexible floor space ringed by tiered seating which can be adapted and dressed for events from 100 to 10,000. As one of the top music destinations in the Midlands, it is a popular host for touring superstars, but the Arena also welcomes large association and corpo-rate events as dedicated event managers ensure everything runs smoothly.

On the outskirts of the beautiful market town of Newark-on-Trent, Newark showground is home to Nottinghamshire’s largest purpose-built exhibition hall, with 14,000 m2 of internal space in 11 halls, set in 120 acres of grounds. The venue is well connected by road and rail, only 75 minutes away from London. With free parking for thousands of cars, in-house cater-ing and site-wide wi-fi are appreciated by business travelers.

CoNtACtDavid RandallDirector of Conferencing & Events Nottingham Event CityT. +44 (0) 115 962 8320conferences@experiencenottinghamshire.com www.nottinghamevents.uk.com

Nottingham Castle Wollaton Hall

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> Large congress cities

large as it getsEngland hosts some of the world’s largest and most prestigious congresses and conventions and offers some state-of-art facilities for large association events.

RoCKINg LIVERpooLLiverpool is one of England’s most signifi-cant maritime cities and has in a sense been purpose built for events following on from its year as European Capital of Culture 2008. Delegates often prefer to visit destinations which have a lot to offer such as its archi-tecture, Beatles and music heritage, passion for sports and football, excellent shop-ping facilities and world-class museums. Liverpool boasts all of this… and much more!

The largest meeting facility on that water-front, ACC Liverpool is the only directly interconnected arena and convention centre in Europe. An eco-friendly and sus-tainable choice for events, it combines a 1,350 seat auditorium, 18 break out rooms and 7,000 m2 of exhibition space together with the interlinked 11,000 capacity Echo

Arena. Opening in 2015 is the venue’s Exhibition Centre Liverpool, which will add 8,100 m2 for trade shows, exhibitions, banquets and concerts, as well as a hotel development With a number of universities in the region, Liverpool’s specialist knowledge is excep-tional with particular strengths in the sec-tors of biotechnology, regeneration, tropi-cal medicine, digital and creative industries, oncology, paediatric medicine, professional services, life sciences and environmental technologies.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is just seven miles from the centre. Delegates can also take advantage of Manchester International airport an hour away. From the UK, rail ser-vices from London have reduced journey times into Liverpool to around 2 hours.

pRogREssIVE MANCHEstERSituated centrally in mainland Britain, Manchester is one of the largest economic regions outside London. Maybe the most progressive cities in the UK, it is an exciting blend of culture, history and commerce and takes pride in a fabulously varied, innova-tive and good range of venues, for large events for up to 19,000 delegates. There is a saying, ‘What Manchester does today, the world does tomorrow’, and with just cause. Manchester was the first city of the Industrial Revolution, the home of the first computer, and the birthplace of the first-ever professional football league. Above all, it is the city’s cheerfulness, the legendary Mancunian friendliness which is guaranteed! Not purpose-built, but definitely a conven-tion centre with a twist, Manchester Central is an award-winning, instantly recognisable

venue - completed in 1880, it was a former railway station. Following the completion of a massive redevelopment, this unique business resort combines historic archi-tecture with state-of-the-art facilities. With the capacity to handle everything from an intimate function to large-scale confer-ences, Manchester Central is highly flexible: facilities include the purpose built 804-seat Exchange Auditorium with an adjacent 1,800 m2 exhibition, conference or dining space for up to 1,200 in Exchange Hall, the 10,000 m2 column-free and divisible Central Hall plus a range of smaller state-of-the-art conference and meeting rooms. With over 2,500 hotel bedrooms within a five-minute walk, Manchester Central has every amenity on its doorstep. Manchester’s strength also lies in the proximity of the airport to the city centre, with 100 airlines flying from over 200 destinations worldwide.

ACC Liverpool

Manchester Central

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> Large congress cities

VIBRANt BRIgHtoNFamed for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, vibrant nightlife and unique arts & culture scene, Brighton & Hove, located on the UK’s South Coast just 70km due south of London, is an ideal place to hold a confer-ence, business meeting, or exhibition. 

Brighton is the foremost ‘city by the sea’ in the UK - offering all the benefits of the seaside, but with the facilities and culture of a truly modern European city. It boasts an amazing array and mix of venues that can host large-scale conferences or the smallest meeting. The city’s largest venue, The

Brighton Centre, holds up to 4,500 people and has exhibition space of over 1900 m2.

Brighton is just 30 minutes from London Gatwick International Airport and 90 min-utes from London Heathrow International Airport by rail, and under an hour by rail from London mainline stations. Whilst Brighton can accommodate all types of events from various sectors, those that have an affinity to the city’s ‘brand’ and eco-nomic profile are particularly well served. Conferences with an international delegate profile enjoy Brighton’s cosmopolitan atmosphere which mixes classic British style with European sensibilities. Brighton is also a city with an impressive IT/digital media business reputation, so conferences in this sector also find the city a great place to be. For the same reasons the medical sector has great synergy with the city as Brighton has world leading research schools at both Sussex and Brighton Universities.

BUzzINg BIRMINgHAMA city with 1,000 shops, excellent restau-rants and bars, vibrant arts scene, dynamic nightlife, strong sporting heritage and sophisticated business infrastructure, Birmingham is buzzing. With a good loca-tion at the heart of England’s road and rail networks, as well as the country’s second busiest airport outside London, it is a city that never stands still.

At the heart of the city, The International Convention Centre (ICC) boasts 10 confer-ence halls and 10 meeting rooms, for up to 3,000 delegates and 3,000 m2 of exhibition space. The National Exhibition Centre (NEC), just eight miles from the centre, has more than 193,000m of covered exhibition space. Coming soon, Resorts World Birmingham, located at the NEC, will be one of the UK’s largest integrated venues. The LG Arena has recently undergone a big redevelopment and has an increased capacity of 15,700. In central Birmingham, the large-scale indoor

sporting and entertainment venue National Indoor Arena, with maximum capacity of 14,000 seats, will undergo a massive mod-ernization soon.

Sectors that are economically relevant include medical technologies, science, envi-ronmental technologies, digital media and creative industries, business, financial and professional services. The city is firmly set on the international meetings map.

Birmingham has more than 27,000 hotel beds in and around the city, and in excess of 5,000 hotel bedrooms within walking distance from The ICC. The International Airport is only eight miles from the city centre and has over 50 airlines to more than 100 destinations Birmingham also sits at the heart of a comprehensive transport network. Birmingham New Street offers regular services to London Euston taking just 82 minutes.

The ICC Birmingham

Brighton Pavilion

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> Special venues

England is one of the best kept secrets for providing that ‘wow’ factor for event plan-ners. There is a great selection of stately homes, historic castles and palaces, sports venues and visitor attractions that are capa-ble of delivering a prestigious event with first class facilities and suppliers.

With 23 airports, including 5 in London, it is one of the most accessible countries on the planet. Each of England’s cities is served with excellent rail and road links as well as an extensive network of flight routes. And current exchange rate movements bring them all that much more within reach. Below are a few highlights worth consider-ing to make an event truly memorable.

A pALACE, A CAstLE, A UNI-VERsIty ANd MoREIf some event planners are unaware that England’s historic venues are open to business events, this will change the per-spective. Blenheim palace has been the Oxfordshire family home to the Dukes of Marlborough for over 300 years. A master-piece of English Baroque architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim can offer meeting and conferencing space to seat up to 250 people. The Palace State Apartments make an ideal setting for private dining and drinks receptions and guests can combine the event with an infor-mative tour of the palace.

Built nearly 1000 years ago, Leeds Castle was originally the site of a Saxon Manor and favourite palace of King Henry VIII. Situated in the middle of the moat with

500 acres of parkland and gardens, this venue is the perfect picturesque place for private events. The castle also has 22 bedrooms offering del-egates a unique overnight experience and a range of outdoor pursuits including falconry dem-onstrations to hot air balloon trips in the breath-taking Kent countryside.

Queens’ College at Cambridge University has been a centre of learning for 550 years and sits astride the River Cam with the leg-endary Mathematical Bridge. The magnifi-cent Old Hall is the original dining hall used by fellows and students. With a rich deco-rated interior this venue offers a wonderful atmospheric background for luncheons, formal dinners and drink receptions.

Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral is the largest cathedral in the UK. The awesome scale and beauty, matched with dedicated events and excellent catering provide a totally unique venue, for all kinds of events - private dining in the Western Room as well as large-scale gatherings, for up to 2,000, are possible. The impressive stain glass windows also make the venue that extra special for any business event.

Opened on 31st May, the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth’s historic dockyards showcases Henry VIII’s sailing vessel. The wardroom with a private balcony is the perfect boardroom setting with a capacity to seat 18 people and the Admiral’s Galley can hold 100 for dinners

and meetings. All attendees will have access to HMS Victory and HM Naval base.

spoRt Is tHE WoRdEngland is well known for international sporting events and many of the host venues can host business events.

Old Trafford is home to Manchester United football Club and a first-class venue that will impress delegates with 24 purpose-built event suites and first-class flexible hospitality packages. Tours can also be arranged as part of the experience.

The Rugby World Cup, which will be coming to England in 2015, is the world’s third most watched sporting event. The final will be held at the famous twickenham stadium which holds 25 dedicated conference and event rooms in addition to offering packages including a tour of the historic stadium and free entry into the World Rugby Museum.

NoWHERE BUt HEREThere are some venues that you will have difficulty finding anywhere else in the world. For example, Alnwick gardens and treehouse is a stunning attraction used as part of the film location for Harry Potter, near NewcastleGateshead. Whether a reception

england’s unique venues A palace, a castle,a university and moreEngland provides an array of diverse and spectacular properties throughout the country offering event planners amazing social programme possibilities and pre-post conference choice.

Leeds Castle

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> Special venues

for 800 people or dinner for 500 people, the Pavilion offers beautiful space overlooking the captivating garden and the water dis-plays of the Grand Cascade. The Treehouse is a magical and unique restaurant, with a roaring log fire in the centre of the room and trees growing through the floor.

The Queen Elizabeth olympic park is an exciting, entirely new area opening this July in the heart of east London and as you can imagine it will have a bit of a sporty vibe. Featuring 35km of pathway snaking you past the UK’s most exciting playground, 91,000 square metres of brand new commercial space, 8,000 new homes and five new neigh-bourhoods, the site of the London 2012 Games will be towered over by an enormous 114 metre artwork in the spiralling shape of the ArcelorMittal Orbit, offering incredible views over the London skyline and providing a drinks reception for up to 300 delegates.

England’s world-famous venues at the Eden project in Cornwall are unique and the perfect place for an inspirational event that feels miles from anywhere. This award-winning venue can hold events overlooking or even inside the amazing Rainforest and Mediterranean Biomes and introduce sea-sonal activities to the programme such as ice skating or den building.

INtRodUCINg BMI REgIoNAL AIRLINE

BMI Regional will operate up to 450 flights a week in Summer 2013 in the UK and Europe, flying 18 jet aircrafts. BMI Regional flies from Aberdeen, Antwerp, Billund, Bristol, Bremen, Birmingham, Bristol, Brussels, Copenhagen, Glasgow, Gothenburg, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Esbjerg, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Lyon, Milan, Munich, Norwich, Manchester, Toulouse and Zurich. All flights include complimentary food & drink on-board, free 20kg hold baggage allowance, 30 minute check-in and an all jet Embraer fleet.

CoNtACtMathias MeereSales Managermmeere@aviareps.comT. +32 (0)2 7120584www.bmiregional.com

Liverpool Cathedral Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth

Twickenham Stadium

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