A progressive conference centre has emphasised the importance of a strong visitor economy to drive business tourism to Coventry and Warwickshire as it pledges to support a destination management organisation (DMO).
Warwick Conferences, which is part of the University of Warwick, has signed up to be a Patron member of Destination Coventry, the DMO for Coventry.
The award-winning conference and meeting venue is based on the university campus and has over 200 diverse spaces for events.
Over the last 12 months, it has seen refurbishment of 204 bedrooms at its Scarman venue and is continuing to invest in further creative meeting spaces.
The venue has also committed to being carbon zero by 2030 and is working hard to upgrade its infrastructure and services to be more energy efficient.
Destination Coventry includes the consumer facing brand, Conference Coventry and Warwickshire, which incorporates the region’s convention bureau and supports meeting, conference and exhibition enquiries into the area.
The Patron membership with Destination Coventry solidifies the existing strong relationship with Warwick Conferences, with the two organisations already having partnered at major trade shows under the Conference Coventry and Warwickshire banner.
Warwick Conferences will also be working with Destination Coventry to establish strategies for international business tourism events and large-scale sporting events, with the DMO also supporting Warwick Conferences to promote event spaces to the corporate market and community groups.
Paul Bartlett, Director of Warwick Conferences, has praised the impact of partnership working and how being collaborative with other visitor attractions can enhance the experience for delegates at conferences.
He said: “As a leading venue in the UK, we have been privileged to host a number of global events and promote Coventry as a fantastic location to meet.
“We are devoted to creating experiences for those visiting our award-winning spaces, and one way we are successful here is through partnerships with many of the region’s fantastic local attractions.
“From the historic Stratford-upon-Avon to the multi-million-pound Warwick Arts Centre, the region boasts many wonderful entertainment and historical spots, and our guests often comment on how memorable their visits are.
“Becoming a Patron of Destination Coventry simply made sense to us. We have seen the fantastic work the team has done over the last couple of years and look forward to playing a role in hosting more significant and global events in our city.”
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 international audiences.
Paul Jones, Managing Director of Destination Coventry, said: “Warwick Conferences has been a great supporter of Destination Coventry for the last two years, and we are delighted to have them on board as a Patron member.
“Partnership working is so important and we have a great culture of collaboration across Coventry and Warwickshire.
“Warwick Conferences is one of the premier conference venues we have in the region, and they have had a major involvement in the delivery of some really significant events in the city, for example the recent UK Corporate Games and British Transplant Games.”
Destination Coventry’s Patron members also include CV Life, No Ordinary Hospitality Management, Coventry Business Improvement District, Warwickshire County Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust, Events by Amadeus, West Midlands Trains, Birmingham Airport and Coventry Building Society Arena.