22 Nottingham
Martin Fullard takes a private tour of De Vere East Midlands Conference Centre and Orchard Hotel , meeting director of sales , Melissa Sobo .
Following a £ 2.1m refurbishment just before the UK entered lockdown in 2020 , De Vere East Midlands Conference Centre offers state-of-the-art meetings and events spaces and magnificent , contemporary public spaces . Centrally located in the Midlands , the award- winning venue is an ideal choice for large events , including conference , exhibitions and awards dinners .
I elected to drive up from Surrey , which in moderate traffic took little over three hours . A train journey from St Pancras London , however , takes a little over 100 minutes .
The venue is located within the University of Nottingham ’ s 330-acre campus and parkland , which meant I had to pass through a neat security gate surrounded by pleasing green spaces . Green indeed , as I while I sat waiting for a moment , I spotted several wild rabbits frolicking about . Few
DELIGHTFUL DE
“ We are a people industry , and Melissa ’ s welcoming demeanor made me feel instantly at home .”
The contemporary reception area at De Vere entrances to a venue are quite so charming .
East Midlands Conference Centre has its own self-contained car park , complete with electric vehicle charging points . The venue can accommodate up to 1,000 delegates while also offering a collection of spaces for smaller meetings and training sessions .
Next door is the Orchard Hotel , a modern , eco-hotel featuring 202 bedrooms and awarded with Best Sustainable Venue at the CHS 2017 and 2019 Awards . The hotel offers a stylish retreat , whether staying for business or pleasure .
It ’ s a people thing My guide for the afternoon was Melissa Sobo , the venue ’ s director of sales . We are a people industry , and Melissa ’ s welcoming demeanor made me feel instantly
The climbing wall at David Ross Sports Village at home . I was reminded that the occasion was my first site visit in 15 months . Without having met Melissa before , it felt almost like a reunion .
I was taken around the main conference centre and Orchard Hotel before we sat down to afford me time to learn a bit more about how the venue will appeal to the corporate and association market when it reopens .
Has the pandemic made you re-think your offering ; has the business model changed , I ask Melissa . “ Our business model will continue to stay the same as a conference and events venue , however we are focusing more on our fantastic outdoor space and wellbeing and the facilities we have for organisers and delegates that surround our venue ,” she tells me . “ The David Ross Sports Village adjacent to the East Midlands Conference Centre has a 12m climbing wall , 25m swimming pool , glass squash courts and the latest full sized 3G pitch with streaming technology .
“ Delegates can also take a walk in our University Green Flag award grounds in-between plenary sessions and sales launches , visiting the Millennium gardens , boating lake and long grass ‘ wild ’ areas , which encourage biodiversity .”
Certainly , there is a clear focus on health and wellbeing and , despite restrictions easing , there www . conference-news . co . uk