The North’s premier exhibition for meeting and conference organisers has announced its innovative seminar programme – the highlight of which is an insightful look into the changes that the new and young generation of conference goers are forcing onto the traditional conference format.

The Conference and Hospitality Show which is taking place on March 18th 2010 at the Royal Armouries Leeds has lined up respected industry experts – Rob Davidson and Stuart Powell – to give an overview to visitors to the show on how generation Y are re-shaping the industry.

Recognised as one of the most influential figures in the UK Conference Industry today, Rob Davidson is Senior Lecturer in Business Tourism at the University of Westminster. He regularly appears at international events to talk to audiences about industry trends and future needs of the meetings and events industry.

He will be giving visitors an insight into “Generation Y” or “Generation Me” – the new talent pool of young people who are storming into businesses with high expectations and a high degree of techno-skills, changing the face of how we do business in the Conference Industry.

This seminar will examine the characteristics of this ambitious, hungry for knowledge and confident generation who are not happy to sit back and listen at Conferences and meetings, but need to be out there, involved and fully participating to keep them motivated!

It investigates the ways in which conferences and incentive programmes can be designed to appeal to this fastest-growing segment of employees. Approaches include effective use of technology, involvement at the design stage, consideration of CSR and sustainability and effective use of speakers.

Stuart Powell will be chairing the session. Stuart and his training company, Inspiring Influence, are all about developing the next business generation. He works with a number of organisations across the UK helping businesses engage with their younger employees. In 2009 Stuart was highlighted by the Yorkshire Post as being one of the top 100 people in Yorkshire most likely to influence the region in the coming years.

Stuart said:
I am really excited to be involved with the Conference and Hospitality Show. It is absolutely vital for the future of the Conference Industry that it responds to the demands of generation Y. Integrating this into the Show is both thought provoking and topical, demonstrating the commitment of the Organisers’ to its audience”.

In addition to this seminar the Show also includes sessions on:
• The Secret of My Success – how clever use of online marketing made the “Thinking Digital Conference” a sell out in just 3 years
• Event Planning – useful hints and best practice tips on how to plan ahead for your next event
• How to cut costs not corners – innovative ideas for making the most of your budget
• Unlocking your company’s DNA – making the most of your assets

The Show is also being supported by Welcome to Yorkshire.
About Conference Leeds

Conference Leeds is responsible for promoting meetings and events across Leeds and West Yorkshire and is a “super convention bureau” representing over 250 venues throughout West Yorkshire.

Conference Leeds is supported by Welcome to Yorkshire, and Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency, charged with improving the Yorkshire and Humber visitor economy. All the local authorities in West Yorkshire; Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale also support Conference Leeds.

Key facts include:
• Business tourism generates £777m to the economy of West Yorkshire each year.
• 5.79 million delegates attend business tourism events in West Yorkshire each year.
• Leeds is ranked the 5th most popular destination for the corporate market in the British Meetings and Events Industry Survey 2009

The Conference and Hospitality Show

The Conference and Hospitality Show 2010 is being held at Savile’s Hall, at the Royal Armouries Leeds on Thursday the 18th March from 9.30 until 4pm. Delegates can register to attend the event for free on www.conferenceandhospitalityshow.co.uk. The Show which is the biggest event of its kind in the North of England, is expecting to attract a record number of visitors in 2010 with its new format, which includes:

• Over 40 venues and suppliers including Weetwood Hall Hotel and Conference Centre, De Vere Hotels, Radisson Group, The University of Leeds, the R & B Group and Savilles Audio Visual
• A careers desk for people wanting to get on in the events industry
• The demo zone where Organisers can find inspiration for their next event
• A strong seminar programme focussed on practical, innovative ideas for making the most of tight event budgets.

About Rob Davidson
Rob Davidson is a Senior Lecturer in Business Travel and Tourism at the University of Westminster in London. Prior to this he taught in France and worked for VisitBritain in London. His main areas of expertise are conference and business travel, and over the last ten years he has written widely on these themes. In addition, he regularly writes articles for the professional business tourism press, including Conference News. Rob also runs his own consultancy business, and has carried out research for a number of conference organisations in the UK and overseas.
He is regularly invited to speak at international conferences on the theme of trends in business tourism. At EIBTM in Barcelona each year, he launches his annual report on current and future developments in the conference and incentive industry worldwide. In 2006, 2007 and 2008, he was included in Conference & Incentive Travel magazine’s ‘Power 50’ – the 50 most influential people in the UK conference industry.
About Stuart Powell
Stuart Powell and his training company, Inspiring Influence, are all about developing the next business generation. He works with a number of organisations across the UK as a spokesman for his generation, helping their managers and leaders better understand, engage with, manage and lead their younger employees more effectively, whilst delivering career, business and personal development to his peer generation. In 2009 Stuart was highlighted by the Yorkshire Post as being one of the top 100 people in Yorkshire most likely to influence the region in the coming years. He is an ambassador for Young Enterprise whilst also being involved with JCI UK at a local level.

For further information please contact:
Emma Cartmell
Event Management 360
Mobile: 07512365822
E-mail: info@eventmanagement360.co.uk

Nicola Lockwood, Manager
Conference Leeds
Direct Line: 0113 220 6356
Mobile: 07957205486
E-mail: nicola.lockwood@conference-leeds.com

Sue Crawley
Firecircle PR
Mobile: 07508140828
E-mail: Sue@fire-circle.co.uk