12
Leeds & Hull
ull Conference Champions
are experts in their field.
They use their influence to
attract national and
international conferences to the
city, using their specialist
knowledge and research to
shape an engaging conference
programme.
Hull draws on local expertise to bring events to the city.
Here, CN explores two case studies
Stephen Greep, general secretary,
Hull & District Chess Association
British Chess Championships – 11
days – 1,700 attendees
Greep was key to hosting a hugely
successful British Chess
Championships in Hull in the
Summer of 2018. The tournament,
open to juniors and seniors,
attracted several Grand Masters to
the take part at Championship HQ
Hull City Hall.
For those participants arriving via
train there was a special welcome
provide by a team of Hull Volunteers
in their vivid blue uniforms.
Throughout the tournament a
tourist information point was
available in the Hull City Hall.
The 11-day event offered a vast
social programme from family
activities at The Deep and pizza
making at Ask Restaurant to a
chess evening at Napoleon’s
Casino. There was an opportunity
for attendees to explore Hull on foot
with a variety of guided walks
covering Hull’s history, pubs and
ghosts.
The Yorkshire Brewing Company
produced a specially brewed beer
for the tournament, Grandmaster
Ale, and one of the quirkier aspects
of the championships saw Queen
Victoria Square turned into a giant
chess board with local volunteers
participating as live chess pieces.
Greep has since brought the
English Women’s Chess
Championships to Hull in 2019 and
is looking into a Children’s Chess
event for the future.
Katy Duke, chief executive
officer, The Deep
BIAZA Annual Conference – 3 days
- 110 attendees; BIAZA Learning
www.conference-news.co.uk
and Presenters’ Conference 3 days
- 95 attendees
During 2017 Duke hosted two
British and Irish Association of Zoos
and Aquariums (BIAZA) conferences
at The Deep. BIAZA is the
professional body representing the
best zoos and aquariums in the UK
and Ireland. Their members are
committed to be at the forefront of
conservation, education and
research.
As well as discussing crucial
conservation topics the
conferences also gave the
delegates the opportunity to explore
Hull’s Museum and Cultural
Quarters with events at Hull
Streetlife Museum and Butler
Whites.
Duke has also attracted the 33rd
European Union of Aquarium
Curators (EUAC) Conference to Hull,
which will be held over four days
during October 2018 in two main
locations The Deep and the new
DoubleTree by Hilton Hull. This is
the largest annual gathering of
European public aquarium
professionals.