WELCOME TO BRITAIN


By Chris Berkein

In 2005 there were 30 million visitors to Britain, 8% up on 2004.
Business visits (8.17 million visitors spending over £ 4 billion) were up by 4% but accounted for the largest rise in spend (+ 22%) and in overall nights (+28%). The average business visit to Britain is 4.3 days (0.3% up from 2005) with business visitors spending an average of £ 116.80 per day. London was the top town for business visits with 3.18 million visits during 2005, contributing £ 2.18 billion in spend.

SPOILT FOR CHOICE AT BRITAIN’S GREAT CULTURAL VENUES
On top of being tourist attractions for the public, some of Britain’s finest castles, stately homes but also museums and art galleries have also taken on another appearance as unique venues for conferences, meetings and other events.
These unique venues are matched by the fact that they are never far away from cities offering a big range of meeting facilities and hotels of all standards as well as nightlife, multicultural dining and extensive shopping facilities.

As Liverpool, birthplace of the Beatles, has been nominated as European Capital of Culture for 2008, it seems appropriate to start a round-up of some of these regional venues in the North of England. A convention centre is being built now on Liverpool’s King Waterfront, opening in January 2008 to coincide with the start of the city’s role as cultural capital. Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool will include a 1.350 seat conference hall and a 10.000 seat concert and sports arena. Albert Dock is home to the evocative Merseyside Maritime Museum. Within the converted redbrick warehouse, one can revive the colourful history of what was once the focal point of one of the world’s greatest ports. After visiting hours it is possible to hold receptions for up to 500 guests split across three different floors and move around the exhibits which include maritime paintings and full-sized vessels.
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
www.lacc.co.uk

With the expansion of regional airports, access to venues outside London is not a problem. Manchester, 54 km east of Liverpool, is one of several UK regional cities that boasts and airport with international status. Shortly after arrival, delegates can be admiring the 1.875 capacity state-of-the-art auditorium of The Bridgewater Hall, a world-class venue for orchestral music. Or the dramatic spaces of waterside visual and performing arts centre The Lowry, which houses the world’s largest collection of the local ‘matchstick men’ artist LS Lowry’s work. www.manchesterconferences.com

Other developments around the country will benefit the events market. Staying in Yorkshire, the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television in Bradford lies just seven miles from Leeds Bradford international airport, which has also direct connections with a number of European destinations. In addition to three cinemas, the museum offers a number of different spaces outside of visiting hours.
www.nmpft.org.uk

The national Railway museum in York with its gleaming steam engines and carriages of a bygone age, is 45 minutes drive from Leeds Bradford airport, or just a few minutes walk from York railway station. Two of its three exhibition halls housing the world’s pre-eminent railway collection can be hired for corporate functions. The Great Hall, a former engine shed, will accommodate receptions for up to 1.000 and presentations for a 350-strong audience. Station Hall can be the location for a sit-down dinner for up to 800. The adjacent 55 m high Norwich Union Yorkshire Wheel gives splendid views of York. www.nrm.org.uk
From York one can explore some North Country scenery behind a giant of steam. A new programme of steam train excursions takes passengers through the Yorkshire Dales to Carlisle or north-east to Newcastle.

Moving to the South, one of the country’s most iconic stately homes is close to the university of Oxford. Blenheim Palace is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Set into beautiful parkland it is the home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Groups can make use of the extended and refurbished conference facilities.
www.blenheimpalace.com

In central Oxford itself, The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology is the oldest museum in the UK. Currently the grade one listed building offers a modern lecture theatre for groups up to 100 in size, plus the Randolph Sculpture gallery with Greek and Roman classical sculptures which can host 50 for a formal dinner and 200 for a reception. The Mallet Gallery, a recently refurbished paintings gallery, is also available. www.ashmolean.org

Moored at Leith near Scotland’s capital Edinburgh is one of the most unique venues anywhere: the former Royal Yacht, Britannia. With the same elegance and standards of service that she displayed when she sailed to every corner of the world, events are held in the State Apartments where statesmen and women such as Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and Margaret Thatcher dined. Located between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in the midst of Braveheart country is Stirling Castle. Linked with Mary Queen of Scots and Robert The Bruce, it opens up its 16th Century Great Hall and Chapel for banquets for 300. It is benefiting from an ongoing restoration project and has launched new hospitality packages with a heavy Scottish or medieval theme.
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/corpevents

At the other end of the country, besides the English Channel, stands Dover Castle. Here the location is the white cliffs of Dover, ideally placed for European clients.
Its centrepiece is a massive 12th century stone keep, able to accommodate 120 for drinks and 90 for dining. It can all be made more colourful with themed medieval banquets, wandering minstrels and the spectre of real and imaginary ghosts. Offering similar capacity, the secret wartime tunnels, deep within the cliffs, lend themselves to internal company events and team building.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/hospitality

For culture of a more quirky nature with team building elements there is also wine tasting. The La Mare Vineyard & Distillery on the Channel Island of Jersey, for example, offers tasting and light-hearted competitions with vineyards, orchards, a winery and a distillery as backdrop. www.jerseyconferencing.com

From the European Summit to a 600 strong Dr Who Convention, Wales has proved itself to be an established, world-class business destination in 2005. With several new and exciting developments across the country, Wales is looking forward to building on its success and offering even greater choice to the conference and incentive buyer in the coming years. www.meetings.visitwales.com.

Having just celebrated its 100th birthday, Cardiff is booming and marketing itself as a top business destination and presents an impressive range of venues that have opened within the last 12 months. Lovers of nature will like events in e.g. the National Botanic Gardens of Wales where several venues for meetings, dinners receptions etc are offered.

Or why not head to Bath, one of the UK’s top tourism destinations with outstanding Georgian architecture? Thermae Bath Spa opened in August 2006, allowing bathing in the thermal waters for the first time since 1978. Facilities include an intimate environment for a small group with a meeting maybe concluding with some ‘aqua therapy’. www.thermaebathspa.com

PLANNING A BRITISH BUSINESS EVENT?
With offices in more than 30 countries, VisitBritain provides a one-stop-shop and key reference point for businesses considering or planning an event in Britain. It offers free and impartial advice on a wide range of venues, facilities and services on offer throughout the UK, as well as event ideas and contact information, latest product news, sample itineraries, networking opportunities, familiarisation visits, assistance with site inspections, assistance with the pitching process, bid support for international association conferences and a wide range of support material. www.visitbritain.com/business .
In the Belgian VisitBritain office the contact is Myriam De Mulder at myriam.demulder@visitbritain.org Tel : +32 (0)2 626 2586.