Blackpool gets set for the Meetings Show
VisitBlackpool and the Winter Gardens Blackpool are heading to the premier international Meetings Show in a bid to target meeting and event organisers to showcase the plans for Blackpool’s new conference and exhibition centre.
The Government announced earlier this year that the proposed new development will be part-funded from Lancashire’s Growth Deal allocation.
It is envisaged that the new facility situated adjacent to the Winter Gardens Blackpool will be one of many turning points for the resort to begin to attract major conferences once again. Due to open spring 2019 the new area will offer over 6,150 square metres of exhibition and conference space.
Event organisers from across the UK will attend The Meetings Show taking place 13-15 June at Olympia in London. The teams from VisitBlackpool and the Winter Gardens Blackpool are looking to show off the plans for their new conference centre and also reconnect and establish new contacts with businesses, agents and conference organisers, encouraging this important business tourism sector to take another look at what Blackpool has to offer.
The Blackpool stand will be one of almost 700 destinations, hotels and venues on show at the event which will be attended by around 3,000, visitors to the show will take advantage of the new connections, networking opportunities and education programme on offer across the three days.
The show also features over 80 free-to-attend educational sessions in ten dedicated content streams delivered by the most creative thinkers in the industry.
VisitBlackpool Tourism Manager Mandy Tythe-McCallum said, “It is vital for Blackpool to have a presence at events such as The Meetings Show.
“This is the premier meeting and events show for both national and international organisers and it gives us the opportunity to talk about Blackpool, its plans for the future and all the resort has to offer.
“There’s an outdated perception about what Blackpool can offer and it’s our job to change that perception, these views are both outdated and simply no longer fit with what’s available in resort, we hope to reconnect with those that have considered Blackpool in the past and also encourage new buyers to come along and take look at our 21st century offer.”
Blackpool’s new conference centre will as a standalone building be able to accommodate up to 2,000 people and if used in conjunction with the rest of the Winter Gardens it will increase the capacity allowing the venue to host over 7,000 conference delegates at any one time; allowing us the opportunity of bringing major conferences to the resort as well as creating jobs and boosting the local economy.
Michael Williams, Managing Director of the Winter Gardens Blackpool comments, “‘The Meetings Show presents the perfect opportunity to showcase the exciting new development which is set to take place at the Winter Gardens Blackpool, along with the facilities already on offer here and across the resort to more than 3,000 industry professionals.
The exhibition is a calendar highlight for anyone involved in organising meetings and events; providing exciting and inspiring ideas along with exclusive offers and expert advice.
Alan Cavill, Director of Places at Blackpool Council said, “These events are vital for us to attend as it’s crucial that Blackpool maintains its high profile.
“It’s an opportunity to promote the resorts conference offer, and it’s plans for the future to organisers who might not have visited the resort for some time or even considered Blackpool for their itineraries .”
The Meetings Show takes place at Olympia London on 13-15 June 2017.
Follow the link to see why Blackpool is the perfect place to host your conference, event, meeting or exhibition https://youtu.be/r8Y0XmuBRzs
For more information on conference and meetings in Blackpool, please contact Mandy Tythe-McCallum [email protected] or go to www.visitblackpool.com/business