03/03/2009

40 of York's top conference venues are set to gather at the Conference York Showcase Day at York Racecourse on Thursday 12th March 2009.  Visit York is calling on businesses from across Yorkshire and beyond to come along and book their conferences, meetings and events in the city.

York's Conference Showcase, organised by Visit York, is an opportunity for conference and event organisers to meet and talk to venues from York directly about their specific requirements for upcoming business events.  One hundred conference buyers from all over the UK - including Siemens, Nestle, Yorkshire and Humber NHS and Network Rail amongst others - will attend a morning exhibition at York Racecourse between 9.30am and 12 noon.

The afternoon will be reserved for themed site visits of some of York's key conference venues: ‘Country Houses and Castles' will take delegates to Hazelwood Castle, Fairfield Manor and Sandburn Hall; ‘Uniquely York' to the National Railway Museum, Kings Manor and Barley Hall; ‘Best of the Boutiques' will include The Grange Hotel, Dean Court Hotel and Hotel Du Vin; and ‘Les Grandes' will incorporate York Racecourse, York Marriott, Novotel York and the Park Inn.  The day will then draw to a close with a drinks reception at the Mansion House.

Gillian Cruddas, Chief Executive of Visit York, said ‘This is a great opportunity for businesses and conference organisers from across the UK to come along and see the unique and interesting venues that York has to offer.  Our most recent Business Tourism Study results revealed an increase of £34 million in the economic impact of business tourism on the local economy, from £98.4 million in 2006 up to £132.4 million in 2007.

With 1.3 million delegates coming into the city every year, we're delighted that venues are working with us to promote York as a top destination for conference and business events.'

Delegates attending the Conference York Showcase Day will also have the chance to be entered into a prize draw to win a trip for two to Paris, including flights courtesy of jet2.com.

For more information or to register for the Showcase please contact Conference York on 01904 554448/53, email conference@visityork.org or visit www.conferenceyork.com  ENDS

For more information, please contact Kay Hyde, PR Manager, Visit York, Tel: 01904 554451, email: kh@visityork.org or Katie Porter, PR Executive, Visit York, Tel: 01904 554436, email: kp@visityork.org