BTP launches campaign to attract more conferences and events to Bath

5th January 2011

Bath Tourism Plus (BTP) has launched a new marketing drive to encourage more conference and event organisers to bring their business to Bath in 2011.  The campaign includes a brand new Venues Directory, attendance at two key exhibitions and organisation of familiarisation visits to showcase the city and surrounding area to event buyers.

Recent research has identified that conference and events bring a considerable economic benefit to the area.  Around 3,700 business events took place at Bath’s venues in 2009, attracting around 155,000 delegates, totalling at a value of over £21 million.   The aim of BTP’s campaign is to increase this amount by targeting key event organisers in the UK and abroad.

Hot off the press is the new Venues Directory which has been completely redesigned for 2011.  The glossy guide has been changed to a compact A5 size and includes information on venues in Bath and the surrounding area from small meeting rooms to unique venues like the Assembly Rooms and Bath Racecourse.  The Directory also includes information on social programmes, incentive ideas and team building opportunities and is distributed in the UK and overseas to event and conference organisers.

BTP will attend two events in March to meet potential event organisers from the UK and overseas.  International Confex, the leading exhibition for event organisers, and Discovery, Visit Britain’s showcase event for meeting and conference buyers from 30 countries, will provide a vital opportunity to gain valuable contacts and promote Bath as an ideal location for an event or meeting.

Part of BTP’s campaign will also include familiarisation visits for buyers who will come to Bath to see the area’s venues and facilities.  The first will take place this month when a group of Dutch contacts will visit to explore what incentives Bath has to offer.  The day will include a private tour around the city and a number of exclusive activities to showcase Bath as an incentive travel destination. 

Robin Bischert, chief executive at Bath Tourism Plus, said: “Business tourism contributes considerably to the local economy and also benefits accommodation and other businesses with event bookings filling spaces mid-week and in quieter months of the year.  Although a great deal of business is already attracted into the city and surrounding area we would like this to grow in 2011.  Our campaign will target contacts within the industry and showcase Bath to potential customers to promote the area’s wide range of meeting and event facilities”.

Event organisers can contact the booking line on 01225 477229 for expert advice or see the official website for more information on arranging a conference or event in Bath www.bathconference.co.uk.

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Notes to Editors:  

For further information please contact Lucy Weaver at Bath Tourism Plus on 01225 477441 or email: lucy_weaver@bathtourism.co.uk or visit www.bathconference.co.uk, the official meetings and events website for Bath and the surrounding area.

Bath Tourism Plus
Working with the public and private sectors, Bath’s destination marketing organisation, Bath Tourism Plus, takes full responsibility for co-ordinating the work of a busy tourist information centre, the marketing of Bath and the surrounding area to leisure and business travellers, PR activity to attract the nation’s top travel writers, a conference office, and development of Bath’s official destination website www.visitbath.co.uk

Travel to Bath
Bath is easy to access from all over the UK and the world.  High speed, direct train services operated by First Great Western link Bath Spa train station to London and its major airports.  Bath Spa train station is well situated, just 5 minutes level walk into the city centre’s main shopping and tourist areas.  See: www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk .  Bath is easy to access by car, from junction 18 of the M4 motorway which links Bath to Bristol, London and South Wales.  There are 3243 pubic car parking spaces in Bath with the main long stay car parks at Charlotte Street and Avon Street.  There are three Park & Ride services on the outskirts of the city which operate fast, frequent services into the city centre, offering a hassle free, cost effective way of reaching the city centre.  There is also a Park & Ride service that operates on Saturdays only from the University of Bath.