The Northern Powerhouse can only be ‘good news’ for the conference and events sector, says Macdonald Hotels’ regional MD Debbie Taylor
Recent media reports claim that the Northern Powerhouse will boost economic growth across the whole of the north of England and revolutionise infrastructure, but what will it mean for the conference and events industry?
Those of us in the North looking to attract high profile events and business travellers should be excited as the Northern Powerhouse is set to make the North one of the UK’s most competitive and attractive areas for conferences and events.
Improvements to transport infrastructure, including faster train journey times and new routes across the North, will mean that northern cities will be much more attractive to events organisers when choosing a location for a conference, as delegates will able to get around more efficiently.
The £1bn development plans at Manchester Airport and new flight routes from the Far East and North America, have also made the North more accessible to international delegates. This is coupled with the recent announcement of a £30m-plus investment by a Chinese developer in Manchester, providing us with a great example to demonstrate that there’s confidence in Manchester at international business level.
I am confident that the Northern Powerhouse can only be ‘good news’ for the conference and events sector and will help to attract additional business travellers to the region, whilst allowing the North to truly stand out on a global stage.
