Transport links
Leeds is only two hours away from London and Edinburgh by train and there are an ever-increasing number of scheduled flights coming in to Leeds Brard International Airport from all over the UK and Europe, with a direct train connection from Manchester Airport for long-haul delegates.
Hotels
Leeds has 6,000 hotel bedrooms with a mixture of budget to boutique hotels.
Mint Hotel Leeds has been named as the third best hotel in Europe for business travel by discount hotels specialist LateRooms.com. The City Inn Leeds was rebranded as Mint Hotel Leeds last year in advance of the hotel group opening two new hotels in London and Amsterdam.
A recent addition to the venue offering in Leeds is The New Ellington. This venue is a boutique hotel with 35 bedrooms in the middle of Leeds’ financial district. The New Ellington boasts three modern event spaces which can host up to 30 delegates.
Outside the city centre, Rudding Park Hotel has been crowned ‘Number One Hotel in the UK’ for the second year running in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2011.
Conference facilities
Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre (Phoenix) have recently launched their £12m, purpose-built, world-class centre for dance in Leeds. The venue is the largest purpose-built centre for dance in the UK, and can also be hired out for events. Spaces include seven studios with a 230-seat studio theatre, two ground floor meeting rooms which open up to make one larger meeting room and a fifth floor board suite which leads onto an uncovered terrace area with panoramic views of the city.
Well Met Conferencing at Leeds Metropolitan University has just announced the introduction of The Grange to its portfolio of venues. Located on the Headingley Campus, just a short drive from Leeds city centre, The Grange is a listed building dating back to before the 16th century when it was originally used as a monastic grange as part of Kirkstall Abbey. The venue includes two large conference rooms.
Nicola Lockwood
“Leeds is easy to get to, has lots of hotels and conference venues to choose from, competitive rates and a warm Yorkshire welcome.
“We’re finding that although the market is a bit all over the place at the moment, corporate bookings are coming back, government business is still difficult and association business is steady. We seem to be holding our own and overall business is still strong.
“Construction has now started on the Leeds Arena, due to open in 2013 and exciting plans have just been unveiled for major development at Leeds Train Station. In addition, many venues including Leeds Art Gallery, the Queens Hotel and Thackray Museum are continuing to invest in their product.”
Any comments? Email conferencenews@mashmedia.net
