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Principal Sponsor:THE ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF VISITOR ATTRACTIONSWednesday 4 October 2017The QEII Conference Centre, London
PROGRAMME AND REGISTRATION FORM
r EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT DEADLINE 13 AUGUST 2017
As Chairman of this year’s Steering Committee, I’d like to invite you to thisyear’s Annual National Conference of Visitor Attractions. Now in its 14thyear, this national conference is a great opportunity for you to come andnetwork with industry colleagues and learn about the latest innovations,thinking and news from practitioners across the attractions and tourismsector. Whether your interest likes in parks and gardens, historic or heritagecentres, theme parks, museums and galleries, zoos or science and discoverycentres, you will be sure to have an informative and enjoyable, thought-provoking day.
As the industry’s annual gathering, the conference programme promises toprovide you with valuable insight into the latest market research, inspire youthrough success stories from new, cutting-edge attractions, and provideyou with the latest trends and learnings from other like-minded businesses.
Introduced last year to great acclaim, you will also be able to joindiscussions and participate in seminars on key topics to help you grow anddevelop your business.
VAC 2017 really is a unique national forum organised by the industry for theindustry, providing you and your colleagues with an opportunity tounderstand your business in the context of the wider visitor attractionsmarket and to furnish you with fresh information and ideas to put intopractice in your own attraction.
We look forward to seeing you in London on Wednesday 4th October.
Paul KellyChief Executive, BALPPA and Chair of theVAC 2017 SteeringCommittee
The Annual National Conference of Visitor Attractions
The event for – museums and galleries; theme and leisure parks; piers; zoos, aquariums and animal attrheritage centres and sites; historic transport; landmark attractions; parks and gardens; farm attractions;
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND?If you’re an owner or senior manager of a visitor attraction, or an opinion former, a tourism, attractions or heritageprofessional, then VAC is for you.
• You have the chance to get involved in a unique forum for industry professionals, where you can network andshare experiences.
• VAC gives you an opportunity to understand your business in the context of the wider visitor attractions market.
• It’s a national conference organised by the industry for the industry.
• The event features a thought-provoking programme of conference sessions to keep you up to date and help youfind new directions for your business.
• You’ll return to work refreshed and with new ideas for ways to improve your business.
The confirmed specialist speakers for the programme include:
Tony ButlerExecutive Director, Derby Museums Trust
Bernard DonoghueCEO & Director, ALVA
Richard EvansDirector, Beamish & Chairman,Association of IndependentMuseums
Kurt JansonDirector, The Tourism Alliance
Ian MillerChief Executive, Crafted
Nigel MillsChairman, The Lakes Distillery
Sharon OrrellHead of Research & Insights,VisitEngland
Debbie RichardsDirector, Baker Richards
Adrian SteelDirector, The Postal Museum
Denis WormwellChairman, VisitEngland
Jon YoungResearch Director, BDRCContinental
The programme will evolve through the summer and may be subject to change without prior notification.
actions; churches, cathedrals and places of worship; historic houses; science centres; heritage railways and workplace attractions. WWW.VACEVENTS.COM
Programme
08:30 Registration & Coffee
09:00 The VAC Legal Briefing – with Burges Salmon
10:00 Welcome by Conference Chairman Bernard Donoghue, CEO & Director, ALVA
10:10 Keynote SessionSpeaker: To be announced
10:30 What’s Hot! The Attractions Scene: new for 2018 and the success stories of 2017Speakers: Bernard Donoghue, CEO & Director, ALVA
Adrian Steel, Director, The Postal MuseumNigel Mills, Chairman, The Lakes Distillery
11:15 Market Insights BriefingSpeakers: Sharon Orrell, Head of Research & Insights, VisitEngland
Jon Young, Research Director, BDRC Continental
11:35 Tea & Coffee Break
12:00 Museums & Heritage SpotlightSpeakers: Tony Butler, Executive Director, Derby Museums Trust
Richard Evans, Director, Beamish & Chairman, Association of Independent Museums
12:25 A Vision for Tourism in EnglandSpeaker: Denis Wormwell, Chairman, VisitEngland
12:45 Be Found or Be Wanting: The Future of Search for AttractionsSpeaker: Ian Miller, Chief Executive, Crafted
13:00 Lunch Break
14:00 Choice of 3 Seminars:Seminar 1: New Staff!Seminar 2: New Audiences!Seminar 3: New Influences for the New EconomySeminar speakers to be announced
15:00 Priceless: How to sell more tickets and memberships and make more money!Speaker: Debbie Richards, Director, Baker Richards
15:25 Immerse Yourself! Lessons from the growth of immersive experiencesSpeakers to be announced
15:40 Tea & Coffee Break
16:00 Tourism Alliance Policy UpdateSpeaker: Kurt Janson, Director, The Tourism Alliance
16:15 Innovating Attractions: Cutting-edge technology from attractions large and smallSpeakers to be announced
16:55 Closing Remarks
17:00 to 18:30 Conference Reception
You’ll enjoy VAC in the comfort of The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre – London’s award-winning multi-purpose meetings venue. The Conference Centre is conveniently located in the heart of Westminster and is ideallylocated to take advantage of everything London has to offer.
VENUE
Get your products and services in front of key buyers at theVAC conference by taking advantage of one of the VACexhibition or conference sponsorship packages.
VAC is a unique event, and our cost-effective sponsorshippackages enable you to promote your company toconference delegates – a group of senior visitor attractionbuyers and opinion-makers. In addition, sponsorship willraise your profile with both existing and potential clients.
To find out more about how VAC can help with yourmarketing, call the conference secretariat at 01227 378850 or email [email protected]. Alternatively, visitour website, www.vacevents.com.
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES THE EXHIBITIONThe VAC exhibition runs throughout the event and islocated near to the main conference room.
From this high profile position you can meet withdelegates and speakers with ease and have theopportunity to explain the benefits your offer has forthem. The VAC exhibition attracts a high level ofrepeat business from exhibitors, showing howsuccessful it is as a method of networking andmeeting delegates.
ave time - register online - www.vacevents.com ▪ ▪ ▪ save time - register
Conference Organiser
Zibrant, 3 Jubilee Way, Faversham, Kent ME13 8GDTel: +44 (0) 1227 378850
Email: [email protected] Website: www.vacevents.com
Designed and produced by MWGC 01892 677702 www.webberdesign.co.uk
Front cover photo credits: VisitEngland/VisitBritain/Pawel Libera, Science Museum, London, England, UK. VisitEngland/Diana Jarvis, Broadway Tower, Worcestershire. VisitEngland/Iain Lewis, Holkham Hall, Norfolk. VisitEngland/VisitKent, Boy by HMS Gannet.
