The Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau has announced its intention to compete for Best UK Convention Bureau category at this year's M&IT Awards – and needs your help to win.
The Bureau, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2022, is responsible for attracting meetings, conferences, and events to the region. Conference and Events are worth £2.3 billion to the regional economy, and pre-Covid, business tourism venues welcomed over 10 million visitors thanks to the work of the Bureau.
In the past 12 months, the Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau has hosted major events including the World Congress on Railway Research, the Volunteer Expo and CHS Birmingham. The team is also set to welcome the International Working Group (IWG) World Conference on Women & Sport in 2026, the world’s largest gathering of experts in equity in sport and physical activity.
The Bureau also introduced its new Conference Ambassador Network this year, an initiative supported by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Business and Tourism Programme (BATP). The initiative aids regional professionals to win new events and conferences, as well as receiving support from the Bureau during the bidding process.
As well as conferences and exhibitions, the Major Sporting Events arm of the Convention Bureau has secured several notable wins for the West Midlands including this year's British Squash Open, the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup and the 2026 European Athletics Championships. These wins have further cemented the region’s growing status as a world-class host of Major Sporting Events, building on the success of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Neil Rami, CEO of the West Midlands Growth Company, said:
“After an incredible year in the global spotlight for the region, thanks to the wonderful platform created by the Commonwealth Games, we want the passion, drive and dedication of our Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau to get the credit we think it deserves.
“Across Games time, the Bureau met with national and international ambassadors to showcase the region as the ideal location to host major business and sporting events., They worked extremely hard to change perceptions of the West Midlands to boost the region’s visitor economy, which helps to create more jobs and opportunities for the people who live here.”
Andrew Lovett OBE, Chair of the West Midlands Tourism and Hospitality Advisory Board, said:
“The Birmingham & West Midlands Convention Bureau plays a vital role in successfully driving business events to the region. They are the unsung heroes of our visitor economy; rightly known for their warmth, authenticity and enviable connections.
“The Bureau continues to develop new ways of working and ensures that all business events and conferences held in the region are of the highest quality.
“I urge event organisers who have worked with the Birmingham & West Midlands Convention Bureau to vote for them. Thank you for your support.”
The M&IT Awards recognises people and teams driving the meetings and events industry forward. Voting is now open for public nominations until 28th April. The Bureaus with the most votes will be shortlisted and nominated to compete for the final award in September.
You can vote for the Best UK Convention Bureau at https://www.mitawards.co.uk/vote