Penrose says ‘energetic’ industry can achieve world top five status

International Confex brought Tourism and Heritage Minister, John Penrose, to tour the trade show floor yesterday, 6 March.
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International Confex brought Tourism and Heritage Minister, John Penrose, to tour the trade show floor yesterday, 6 March.

Confex Portfolio Director Jonny Sullens said he was “delighted” to
welcome the Minister. “We have never had such high level support.”

Chairman of the Business Visits and Events Partnership, Michael Hirst,
was also in attendance and expressed satisfaction that the Minister had
come to see “first hand the vibrance and dynamism of an industry that
does so much for Britain, which is a world-class destination for events,
conferences and business travel”.

Hirst also flagged up recent Office of National Statistics and GBTA research showing impressive new growth for buinsess travel.

Hirst also reminded the Minister that the Government’s withdrawal of
support for VisitBritain had been greeted by “puzzlement” in the
meetings industry.

He also reminded Penrose that a subvention report prepared by the
industry was lying on his desk and deserving of attention and support.

“Your support will lead to a very eventful payback,” Hirst told the
Minister who, in turn, said he had been “impressed by the people, energy
and buzz at International Confex”.

Penrose spoke about aligning both public and private efforts regionally
to push the industry forward and agreed there was a need to make
internal Whitehall processes smoother and more effective for the
industry.

“There are hugely varying levels of engagement with public and private
partnerships in the destinations,” he said. “We need to raise the
average and there is a huge opportunity for this energetic sector to
grab.”

“We are optimistic and there is an enormous amount all of us can do,” the Minister added.

He also said he was fed up of making excuses for Britain’s low world
ranking for MICE and intended the country to enter the top five echelon
by 2020.

“We’re right behind you and will do all we can to help,” he told the audience.

Do you have news for CN? Email: pcolston@mashmedia.net

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