Birmingham to showcase new venues at Old Billingsgate event
17th Sep 2012
Meet Birmingham, the city’s official business tourism programme, is attending this week’s industry-leading Square Meal Venues & Events exhibition in London, as it seeks to give the show’s 8,000 visitors food for thought with its unique conferencing offer.
Taking place on the 19th and 20th September at Old Billingsgate, Meet Birmingham’s stand B26 in the venue’s River Room will also feature two of the more recent additions to the city’s business tourism scene – venuebirmingham, which boasts the new Bramall Music Building, and Drayton Manor Hotel, which celebrated its first birthday last month.
Ian Taylor, Commercial Director at Marketing Birmingham, the city’s strategic marketing partnership which operates Meet Birmingham, said:
“Exhibitions such as Square Meal play a vitally important role in the city’s drive to generate more new business.
“Last year’s event, our first as an exhibitor, provided us with a valuable opportunity to talk face-to-face with a high calibre of visitors. Delegates are always impressed with our accessible, central location and our ability to host and deliver first-class events, so it’s crucial that we continue to build on this reputation.
“Our stand partners venuebirmingham and Drayton Manor Hotel are two examples of significant investments that are being made into our conference and events sector, ensuring we remain the top choice for event organisers in future.”
venuebirmingham, based at the University of Birmingham, unveiled its new £18 million Bramall Music Building in June, which completes the impressive semi-circle of buildings around the Chancellor’s Court on campus. The state-of-the-art building features the 450-seat Elgar Concert Hall, which uses the same acoustic model as Birmingham’s acclaimed Symphony Hall. As well as concerts, the venue will be used for conferences, meetings and product launches from October, with both a moveable stage and seating, plus break-out meeting rooms and a foyer. The new Bramall Music Building complements venuebirmingham’s existing portfolio, which includes Winterbourne House, set within seven acres of botanic gardens, The Great Hall and The Conference Park.
Meanwhile, Drayton Manor Hotel offers unique, creative and flexible spaces for meetings, team away days, exhibitions and presentations. It opened last August as a result of a £20 million development. The hotel, based at Drayton Manor Theme Park near Tamworth, boasts 150 bedrooms and large conference spaces, including the Tower Suite, with a capacity of up to 500 people.
The Hamilton and Park View suites enjoy views over the venue’s lake and acres of parkland, once home to Sir Robert Peel, while the executive boardrooms provide the ideal space for interviews, training and board meetings. Drayton Manor’s £1 million, 4D, 152-seat cinema is a unique venue with a 32 ft screen, adding a new dimension to organisers’ events.
For more details of Birmingham’s conference and events offering, including the services provided by Birmingham Convention Bureau, visit www.meetbirmingham.com
