Conference Leeds the convention bureau for Leeds and West Yorkshire that markets the area to meetings and events organisers met with buyers at one of Leeds newest venues “Aspire” recently with the aim of “Keeping Leeds Talking”!

Conference Leeds is taking part in the UK wide “Keep Britain Talking Campaign”. The campaign is an initiative run by the meetings and events industry and backed by Visit Britain, for the meetings and events industry. Its core objectives are to raise awareness of the value of meetings and events to wider business and as a lobbying tool to garner more governmental support for the industry.

The campaigns key messages this year are focused on promoting UK meetings with the message “Buy British” for value and quality.

Staff from Conference Leeds were invited to Aspire for an open day which showcased the new venue in the heart of Leeds and encouraged buyers to “Keep Britain Talking” by meeting in Leeds.

Aspire, formerly a bank built in 1894 is an imposing and opulent styled building rich with historic interest in the heart of Leeds City Centre with a flexible meeting space for up to 1000 guests.

Commenting on the campaign, Nicola Lockwood, Head of Conference Leeds said “2009 is going to be a tough year for the UK industry but we have a tremendous opportunity to push our value message both domestically and internationally. The Pounds devaluation against the Dollar and the Euro means there has never been a better time to buy locally.”

Patra Heaton, Sales Manager of Aspire added: “As a major venue in Leeds we are happy to lend our support to the “Keep Leeds Talking” campaign on our open day. We wanted to show potential guests Aspire’s versatile range of beautiful facilities and our willingness to accommodate their needs, without having to compromise on high standards of service whilst ensuring value for money – qualities that are at the heart of the campaign.

Conference Leeds is supported by Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency.

ENDS
EDITORS NOTES:
Nicola Lockwood is available for interview on 0113 220 6356 or mobile 07957205486
email: nicola.lockwood@conference-leeds.com

Image
Image shows staff from Conference Leeds meeting with buyers and staff from Aspire at Aspire on the Open day on Thursday 17th September

About Conference Leeds
Conference Leeds is the organisation responsible for promoting meetings and events across Leeds and West Yorkshire. Conference Leeds is a “super convention bureau” representing almost 250 venues across the area, responsible for marketing the West Yorkshire districts of Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale.

Conference Leeds is a Leeds City Council organisation with funding from Yorkshire Forward, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale Councils.

Conference Leeds can offer a free venue finding service for anyone wanting to host an event in Leeds and West Yorkshire and markets the area through a series of initiatives.
Business tourism is worth over £450million a year in direct expenditure to the Yorkshire economy.

About Yorkshire Forward
Conference Leeds is supported by Yorkshire Forward. Yorkshire Forward is the regional development agency for Yorkshire and the Humber, it exists to represent and help generate sustainable business for the region’s tourism industry, an industry worth £4.1billion to the region annually and employing over 165,000 people, making it one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the region. Yorkshire’s goal, as identified in Bold Vision, Bright Future – The Tourism Marketing Strategy for Yorkshire and Humber 2006 – 2010, is to achieve and increase in the value of tourism earnings to the region by 5% per annum to £5.9bn by 2010.

Aspire
View www.aspire-leeds.co.uk

Keep Britain Talking
For further details on the Keep Britain Talking Campaign view www.keepbritaintalking.co.uk