Features: UK & Ireland

Nottinghamshire Convention Bureau has made several recent additions to its portfolio of conference and event facilities. Our series of features on this thriving destination continues with a look at why its ever-expanding range of venues puts the county into the top 10 conference destinations in the UK, according to the Meetings Industry Association’s 2008 report. Read >

More and more business organisations are discovering Nottingham as the place to be in 2009. Thousands of international delegates descended on the city in 2008 for major conferences – from the Dalai Lama at Nottingham Arena in May to the recent European Cities Marketing Conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Read >

According to a study commissioned by the Meetings Industry Association, Nottingham is among the top 10 conference destinations in the UK. In the first of a series of features on this thriving and developing city, we look at how a blend of modern conference facilities and historic architectural elegance provides an ideal meeting place for business. Read >

Over the past six months, the city of Chester and its surrounding Cheshire countryside have seen a number of developments that confirm the region as one of the UK’s premier conference destinations. And with impressive transport links, a wide choice of world-class conference venues and an attractive ‘town-meets-country’ feel, the region’s rise in prominence on the circuit comes as no surprise. Read >

Yorkshire South is brimming with inspirational ideas and venues to make any business event in Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley truly exhilarating. But there\'s nothing like experiencing the magic of the region for yourself – so Yorkshire South is offering a healthy, no-holds-barred familiarisation tour of the region, full of ‘good for you’ food and activities. Read >

Anthony Lishman is the first full-time executive director of Conference Centres of Excellence, the UK’s largest consortium of specialist venues, with more than 3,600 beds under management across its 36 members. We caught up with Anthony at Event UK to ask him about the new role and his objectives for the group. Read >

Yorkshire South is fast emerging as the location for events, meetings, exhibitions and conferences – and its success is down to its high-quality venues and the range of product that is available to buyers. But that doesn’t mean the venues are resting on their laurels. Venues across the sub-region are spending millions of pounds on new, enhanced facilities to ensure that Yorkshire South remains a market leader. Read >

Within the Yorkshire South region, millions of pounds have been invested in business tourism facilities over the past three years, with further developments being planned for the future. There are currently 12,000 bedrooms across the region with a further 1,000 under development, and in the past year alone the region has brought 2.5 million overnight stays and generated £357million spend for the region – 40 per cent of which is business tourism related. Read >

Yorkshire South’s appeal as a business tourism destination is, in part, due to the quirkiness and uniqueness of the region’s business tourism offer. Including Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley, Yorkshire South has the choice of bustling, cosmopolitan cities and towns as well as being a gateway to the stunning Peak District National Park and Pennines. Read >

With business tourism set to bring €1billion to Ireland by 2013 – and Dublin expected to generate an 80% share of this lucrative business – the capital has taken a significant step forwards with the recent integration of the Dublin Convention Bureau and the Dublin Regional Tourism Authority – to form the Business Unit. Read >

Our series of features on Dublin’s offering as a premium draw for business tourism continues with a look at more one-off venues that make this such a unique and inspiring destination. Read >

If you’re looking for a destination that stands out from the crowd and offers a memorable experience, Dublin is the place to be. One of the reasons this city shines as business destination is its astonishing variety of unique venues. Read >

As a preview to Meet England’s Meet the Cities event in Dublin on 25 September, our series of city profiles continues with a glimpse at the breathtaking range of venues on offer in NewcastleGateshead, and some of the unique attractions that make this lively and stimulating destination such a popular draw for event planners. Read >

Ireland’s capital is a city that truly captures the imagination. Cobbled alleys, Viking remains, Georgian squares... Dublin’s history goes back over a thousand years. As a destination for conferences and meetings, this is a safe and inspirational city, eager to extend a warm welcome to business tourists from across the globe. Read >

In the run-up to Meet England’s Meet the Cities event in Dublin on 25 September, the first in a series of exclusive city profiles looks at three Manchester venues that will be flying across the water to meet Ireland’s event and conference planners. Read >