The Birmingham and the West Midlands Convention Bureau has today, 24 March, launched a new Conference Ambassador Network to drive more global events into the region.
The initiative, which is supported by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Business and Tourism Programme (BATP), will see regional professionals from academia and business champion the West Midlands and their own work to win new conferences and events.
Ambassadors will receive support from the Birmingham and the West Midlands Convention Bureau and partners throughout the bidding process, from finding a suitable venue and preparing proposals, to the running of the event itself.
The Conference Ambassador Network will also showcase the region’s sector expertise in areas such as technology and digital; data-driven healthcare; future mobility; and business, professional and financial services.
The launch event
The Conference Ambassador Network launched at Millennium Point, and welcomed delegates from across the region’s academic; conference and events; leisure tourism; and investment sectors.
The event included a short presentation about the region from Steve Knight senior business manager, West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC).
Following the presentation, CN editor Martin Fullard hosted a panel debate with guests: Paul Black, head of business events, VisitBritain; Donna Cunningham, convention sales director, NEC Group; Dr Jenny Illingsworth, centre manager BCRRE, University of Birmingham and Laura Shoaf, chief executive, West Midlands Combined Authority.
Knight said: “The West Midlands shows time and again what it can achieve when it collaborates, from hosting high-profile events such as the Conservative Party Conference to successfully bidding for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“By unlocking further contacts within our academic and business communities through this new network, we are showing that we are open for business after a challenging couple of years, and aiming to leave a Games legacy as a major global events destination.”
Cunningham added: “Birmingham provides a strong proposition to international event organisers in terms of its range of venues, the variety of accommodation available and its connectivity. We see this in the global destination rankings as well as the status of the events we host here.”
Illingsworth commented: “The World Congress on Rail Research 2022 is the rail industry’s biggest and widest-reaching conference of its kind; we are expecting around 1,000 international delegates to come together to learn, share, collaborate and innovate.
“The support of WMGC’s convention bureau has been invaluable, not only in securing the event for us, but also with supporting how we’re bringing our visitors to the region.”
