Freer (pictured left with Aimee Richardson) discusses why northern venues travel to the capital to target London buyers.
Most major business tourism exhibitions as well as the important agent and association forums, take place in London. The reason why is simple: London is where a large majority of the key conference organisers, buyers and agents are based.
But this can present a challenge to destinations outside London. There are limited opportunities to engage with business tourism decision makers on their doorstep and not all industry events allow the kind of pure, one-to-one time that gives you the opportunity to make your destination stand out.
Which is why we’re taking a different approach: we’re going to take York to London.
In March 2013, VisitYork4Meetings will host ‘York Minster to Westminster’, a London event which will bring together 20 of York’s finest conference venues with 70 hand-picked conference buyers from London and the South.
The event opens with an afternoon tea reception at the Houses of Parliament where York MPs Hugh Bayley and Julian Sturdy will welcome delegates. We’ve created an added incentive for attendees by arranging a special behind the scenes tour of Westminster.
We then move a few minutes’ walk from the Houses of Parliament to the new Intercontinental Westminster Hotel, where venues will have the chance to speak to prospective clients one-to-one over a Yorkshire-themed dinner and really bring to life York’s business tourism product and its unique leisure offer.
By taking such a proactive approach, we not only make it easy and attractive for buyers to learn more about York, we also demonstrate our commitment to business tourism in York.
People like to talk about a north-south divide. In York, we prefer to think of the north-south bridge.
For further information about the York in London showcase or to express your interest in attending please visit www.visityork4meetings.com
