A new report suggests there are signs of recovery for Leeds’ business tourism industry.

The annual UK Events Markets Trends Survey (UKEMTS) – which collates data supplied by venues across the country – reveals that Leeds and West Yorkshire bucked the national trend in 2010, with across the board growth in the sector.

The value to the local economy is up 13% to £615.2m, the number of delegate days is up 18% to 8,309,000 and the average number of events per venue is up 6%.

Nicky Lockwood, Manager of Conference Leeds, said:
“Whilst things remain challenging for venues and hotels in West Yorkshire – particularly with the loss of many public sector events – these figures are a real boost and demonstrate the importance of having quality product and continuing to promote the great conference venues and hotels we have. As things become increasingly competitive, Conference Leeds has an important role to play in ensuring that Leeds, Bradford and West Yorkshire are always on the radar of conference buyers throughout the UK. As an example of how we make this happen, we’ve just returned from a series of one-to-one meetings with conference buyers in London and will be attending two similar events in November.”

Leeds and West Yorkshire is responsible for almost half (49%) of the business tourism events that take place in the whole of Yorkshire. On average 357 business events worth a massive £2.3m take place every working day in West Yorkshire.

And, as well as generating income for hotels and conference venues, business tourism events also make a substantial contribution to the wider economy, with delegates spending money in shops, on transport and in restaurants and nightclubs.

Though the figures are still down on where they were in 2008, there is growing optimism in the region, with 42% of venues in Leeds and West Yorkshire expecting business to be up in 2011.

For further information about organising an event in Leeds and West Yorkshire call 0113 220 6351 or visit www.conference-leeds.com

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Editors’ Notes:

• Conference Leeds is the official convention bureau for Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield and Calderdale. The “super convention bureau” represents over 300 venues and 50 suppliers.
• Conference Leeds is supported by all the local authorities in West Yorkshire; Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale as well as Welcome to Yorkshire and the private sector.
• Conference Leeds is the driving force of Yorkshire’s business tourism industry. Key facts include: – 49% of all business events in Yorkshire take place in West Yorkshire. – 5.2 million delegates attend 92,900 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.

For further media information please contact:

Victoria Sowerby – Welcome to Yorkshire
Email: victoria@bandhcommunications.co.uk
Direct Line: 0113 243 4713
Mobile: 07968 732630

Nicky Lockwood – Conference Leeds
Email: Nicola.lockwood@conference-leeds.com
Direct Line: 0113 220 6356/1
Mobile: 07957205486