Cheltenham has launched a new initiative to support the recovery and growth of the town’s business tourism market.
The new Meet in Cheltenham initiative, which is led by the town’s marketing body, Marketing Cheltenham, has been developed to attract more conference, meeting and event business to the area.
The business events sector has been among the hardest hit as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Through its new website, the new Meet in Cheltenham service will provide free and professional venue finding for local, national and international businesses or planners seeking to bring their events to the town. From large conferences for more than 2,000 delegates to small, secure, private meetings and from teambuilding away days to corporate incentives, Meet in Cheltenham says it will help to source accommodation, event space and suppliers, while also providing practical destination support and advice.
More than 20 venues are involved with further venues expected to join.
David Jackson, manager of Marketing Cheltenham, said that the local business tourism market is worth upwards of £40m to Cheltenham’s economy, adding: “Our Meet in Cheltenham initiative comes just at the right time to support our venues and suppliers to bounce back after a really challenging year.”
Jacked noted that the region is expecting investment and this provided an opportunity to capitalise on the corporate event and conference market.
Peter Hendry, interim cluster general manager from Jurys Inn said that Cheltenham has lacked a centralised conference desk for a number of years. He added: “The creation of the new Meet in Cheltenham venue-finding service was something we’ve been pushing for some time.”
Conferences and meetings are worth £19bn to the UK economy annually, making up the largest contribution to the overall £84bn events industry.
Pictured: Ellenbourough Park
