West Midlands |
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Local Visitor Economy Partnership ( LVEP ) and Coventry & Warwickshire LVEP .
It Starts Here The West Midlands is not just a pioneer of the past , it ’ s an inventor of the future .
Its new destination promotion campaign – It Starts Here – aims to reinvigorate the region ’ s brand , drive growth and create new , high-value jobs .
The campaign launched at Symphony Hall , during Birmingham Tech Week – the UK ’ s biggest regional tech festival – and its focus is on demonstrating the region ’ s innovation-led strengths .
It Starts Here will span a number of sub-campaigns focused on the region ’ s key growth sectors , including The Green Power Revolution Starts Here ; Life-Changing Science Starts Here ; Game-Changing Tech Starts Here ; and Next-Generation Services Start Here .
A campaign goal is to drive inward investment from target markets including India , North America and Germany and , in 2025 , WMGC will also be taking the campaign to the international marketplace for the first time by way of a regional trade mission
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to India , led by West Midlands Mayor , Richard Parker .
Connectivity and culture The region is certainly blessed with a special connectivity and sits right at the heart of the country ’ s transport network . It also has a plethora of top quality venues and talent in the service sector .
Steve Knight , senior business tourism manager at WMGC , says the central location is what really sets the region apart from other UK destinations . “ Event organisers and delegates can get to us easily by air , road and rail , which makes a real difference when choosing where to place a conference or exhibition . The region has a young , diverse population – we are a proud home to nine leading universities , each offering its own huge variety of meeting spaces – and the next set of superstars ready to drive global innovation and change . If you haven ’ t been to the West Midlands for a while , we encourage you to take a second look – you won ’ t be disappointed . From revitalised transport infrastructure at Birmingham New Street station and Wolverhampton Interchange , to new accommodation at Hotel Indigo Coventry and Warwick Castle , to new
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Left : Exhibiting at
the NEC
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event facilities at the University of Wolverhampton at the Halls and The Belfry , the region ’ s business events industry doesn ’ t stand still .”
The cultural offer includes – as has been described in the New York Times – more Michelin starred restaurants than any UK city outside London . There is plenty of food for the soul also in ‘ Shakespeare ’ s England ’, while the historic waterways and the Jewellery Quarter are further diamonds in the cultural crown . These ingredients all add up to a strong and tasty recipe to draw visitors for their next visit and big event and the newly-launched Birmingham and West Midlands Visitor Pass offers exclusive discounts at local attractions , hotels , restaurants and shops .
And you don ’ t need to leave Birmingham city centre for , perhaps , the biggest cultural draw of all – the magnificent £ 189m Library of Birmingham which has been described as the largest public cultural space in Europe .
Consult the CVB Helping organisers to plug in to the economic power grid and the numerous business opportunities in the region is The Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau , which sits under the WMGC . Steve Knight again :
“ Events are in our blood , and we have the infrastructure and expertise to ensure we deliver outstanding conferences , meetings and exhibitions for everybody who visits . With a focus on the international and domestic association markets , we are keen to work with organisers to explore how their event can positively impact the West Midlands , long after it has gone .”
Clare Hurter , WMGC Conference Ambassador network manager , promotes the region ’ s talent and academic prowess as a resource for both conference speakers and as ambassadors for supporting a range of
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