Sheffield Convention Bureau hosts Conference Sales Drive

Sheffield Convention Bureau and Hospitality Sheffield members have joined forces to deliver a conference sales drive for the city in an effort to secure Sheffield’s next phase of conferences, events and exhibitions.

Sales representatives from hotels and venues across the city came together to nurture the many leads gained by the Sheffield Convention Bureau at exhibitions they have attended over the last twelve months including Square Meal, CONFEX and CONFEC Green.

Gemma Bradshaw, Business Tourism Manager at the Sheffield Convention Bureau, commented: “Over 300 calls were made by the team with some great leads established. The aim is to raise the profile of Sheffield’s venue portfolio, ensuring that the city is at the front of the queue when conference and event organisers are planning where their events will be hosted.

“We are currently working on events as far ahead as 2017 so this is certainly no short term measure. This is about helping to secure the long term future of Sheffield’s conference venues, hotels, bars and restaurants which are worth millions of pounds to the city’s economy.”

Ian Slater, Chair of Hospitality Sheffield who have supported the drive, added: “The value of business tourism to the city’s economy should not be underestimated. This is the first time that the Convention Bureau and the city’s Sales Managers have undertaken a joint Sales Day and I hope that it will be the first of many.”

Participating venues included the Holiday Inn Royal Victoria, Sheffield International Venues, Jurys Inn, Kenwood Hall, the Hilton, Copthorne, Park Inn Sheffield, Jurys Inn, Leopold Hotel, Conference 21 and Double Tree by Hilton.

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For further information about organising a conference in Sheffield or South Yorkshire call 0871 700 2214 or visit www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/conference

Editors’ Notes:

Sheffield Convention Bureau forms part of Marketing Sheffield and is the official convention bureau representing venues across Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley and The Peak District.

Sheffield Convention Bureau is supported by Sheffield City Council, Welcome to Yorkshire and tourism businesses across South Yorkshire.

Key facts include:

-       Sheffield Convention Bureau welcomed over 1.20 million delegates into the region in 2008 equating to an economic impact value of over £168 million

-       Sheffield Convention Bureau won Best UK Destination at International Confex in 2008 and 2009

-       Sheffield Convention Bureau was awarded Bronze at the 2009, 2010 and 2011 M&IT Awards in the Best UK Convention Bureau category

For further media information please contact:

Victoria Sowerby – Welcome to Yorkshire

Email: victoria@bandhcommunications.co.uk

Direct Line: 0113 243 4713

Mobile: 07968 732630

Gemma Tissington – Sheffield Convention Bureau (formerly Yorkshire South Tourism)

Email: gemma.tissington@marketingsheffield.org  

Direct Line: 0114 201 1015

Mobile:  0781 5944 723