Leading operator of Coventry cultural and leisure venues targets conference sector expansion

Tuesday 3rd of October 2023 09:18 AM

A leading operator of cultural and leisure venues across Coventry is seeking to expand its presence in the conference sector after reaffirming its support to the city’s destination management organisation (DMO).

CV Life, which operates venues including The Wave, Coventry Transport Museum and the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, has renewed its Patron membership with Destination Coventry.

The move comes as Destination Coventry, through its Conference Coventry and Warwickshire brand, has started to support CV Life with managing enquiries for its conference facilities.

Conference Coventry and Warwickshire is the region’s convention bureau and supports meeting, conference and exhibition enquiries.

CV Life has space for meetings and conferences across all its venues throughout Coventry, including at its leisure facilities at Xcel Leisure Centre, Centre AT7, The Alan Higgs Centre and Moat House Leisure Centre.

The facilities provide added-value sporting opportunities for meetings and events, including sports tournaments or team-building sessions in an outdoor adventure area, however it is CV Life’s cultural venues in the heart of the city that are the focus of the relaunch of its conferencing provision.

Coventry Transport Museum boasts conference facilities that can cater to up to 180 guests and see delegates immersed in the automotive and transportation history of Coventry’s past.

The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum can support conferences and meetings of up to 72 people at the heart of the city’s cultural landscape.

The renewal of the Patron membership with Destination Coventry follows a year of collaboration between the two organisations to help Coventry maximise the impact of Dippy the dinosaur making Coventry its home for the next three years.

This has included the success of drinks receptions and dining opportunities in the space shared with Dippy, in partnership with Events by Amadeus, which is also a Destination Coventry Patron.

Jane Murphy, Corporate Director at CV Life, said: “We have hosted events in our unique venues for many years, but we know that we can do more to make the most of their potential as exceptional conference and meeting spaces.

“We have seen significant benefits from working in partnership with Destination Coventry and other organisations in the city, and this has been proven with the continued success of Dippy in bringing visitors in the city.

“By working in partnership again with Destination Coventry, we are targeting growth in the conferencing sector, whether that is an industry conference, product launch, or corporate gathering.”

Destination Coventry Patrons are members that have pledged to support the wider destination marketing and management efforts to raise the profile of Coventry and the wider region to national and international audiences.

Paul Jones, Managing Director of Destination Coventry, added: “CV Life counts some of the city’s most important and well-known venues in its portfolio, and we are delighted that they have reaffirmed their commitment as Patron members.

“Our team is working closely with CV Life to maximise the benefits of conference enquiries into their venues and the added-value that can be brought to an event when being held in one of Coventry’s premier sport or cultural venues.”

Destination Coventry launched in 2021 and features two established brands, Visit Coventry and Conference Coventry & Warwickshire.

Its Patron members include No Ordinary Hospitality Management, Birmingham Airport, Warwickshire County Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust, Events by Amadeus, West Midlands Trains, Coventry BID and Coventry Building Society Arena.

To find out more about hosting a conference or event at a CV Life venue visit: https://www.theherbert.org/corporate-hires/default.aspx or https://www.transport-museum.com/join-and-support/corporate-hire.aspx

PICTURE CAPTION: Paul Jones and Jane Murphy at The Wave in Coventry.