CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE
Claire England , senior destination manager , Conference Coventry and Warwickshire , says events must incorporate culture and social impact
ringing a conference , exhibition or event to a new city or region can be a challenge , particularly at a time where delegates are seeking added value to a traditional conference experience .
It ’ s essential to have a strong knowledge of the area you are bringing your event to provide a rich experience for delegates .
Conference Coventry and Warwickshire acts a one-stop-shop for free-of-charge , impartial advice and unrivalled local knowledge for organisations seeking to bring their event to our destination .
We know that by providing a memorable experience for delegates visiting the region , we will see a positive knock-on effect on our wider visitor economy , ultimately creating jobs for local people and a positive social impact .
Coventry Cathedral
Coventry and Warwickshire : a one stop shop
It ’ s not just about conferences , hotels and gala dinners – for any event , large or small , we can put together a fantastic social programme to add value for delegates .
As a destination , we are very lucky to have a proud heritage offer , strong cultural credentials and also benefit from being a hotbed of UK industry . This enables our convention bureau to generate bespoke programmes to help delegates make the most of their time here .
We ’ re excited by the potential of ‘ Bleisure ’ travel too – a growing trend that is creating a new type of traveller - a traveller seeking to tag a break onto the end of their work trip .
Ultimately , we want to be inspiring delegates to be
Claire England
“ As a destination , we are very lucky to have a proud heritage offer , strong cultural credentials and also benefit from being a hotbed of UK industry ”
interested in staying in our region and as such putting on memorable experiences is even more important .
We had a great recent example with international visitors from The British Council , who arrived in our region for a three-day education-led seminar . We curated a cultural programme , built a sense of place for the visitors and ensured they went away with a lasting positive impression of Coventry .
Through our extensive network of contacts , we put together an afternoon walking tour and tapped into our local expertise to source informative local guides to further enhance that sense of place and belonging .
Our convention bureau takes the time to best understand the needs of every enquiry that comes in and make organisers fully aware of everything the city has to offer .
With a free venue finding service , free accommodation booking service and even a dedicated member of our team to support event organisers free-of-charge , the whole process is immediately less resource intensive on the booker .
We know that many organisers are seeking quality conference experiences outside of London , which are more cost-effective than the capital and provide a better wellbeing experience than the hustle and bustle of the city .
This presents a really exciting opportunity for destinations such as Coventry and Warwickshire , with our accessible location and wide-ranging offer . CN www . . conference-news . . co . . uk