York MPs Hugh Bayley and Julian Sturdy welcomed 63 event buyers from across Europe and the South of England to the York Minster to Westminster event at the Houses of Parliament (13 March).
Both MPs extolled the virtues of the ancient capital as a modern conference destination. “York is a great city with history to die for,” said Sturdy, adding that the city was also “a gateway to the great county of Yorkshire”.
Hugh Bayley, hotfoot from lobbying for Richard III to be given a Yorkshire burial, rather than being reinterred in a Leicester car park, noted that York had a proud tradition of hosting major international meetings, including a recent EcoFin meeting at the Royal York Hotel and US Senators coming to talk foreign policy at Middlethorpe Hall.
VisitEngland had partnered with VisitYork’s VisitYork4Meetings brand to bring the buyers to Intercontinental Westminster Hotel, for a showcase with 21 participating York venues followed by a Yorkshire-themed gala dinner.
VisitYork CEO Gillian Cruddas said the event had been a year in the planning and welcomed buyers and agents from countries including France, Holland and Germany.
Cruddas noted that the city attracts 7m visitors a year and was voted Best Gastro City by Trip Advisor. Business events were worth £150m to the city economy in 2011, she added.
VisitEngland CEO James Berresford also welcomed guests to the Members Dining Room in theHouses of Parliament and said York was his favourite historic destination in the country.
“Latest figures show that business events are worth £25bn a year to England,”Berresford added, and claimed there was big continuing investment in the country’s venue product and hotel and transport infrastructure.
Berresford also promised the agency would continue to lobby government to support major event bidding processes.
Do you have news for CN? Email: pcolston@mashmedia.net
