• Glittering launch event to mark the official opening of The Rose Bowl
• £49 million state –of-the-art conference centre
• Dedicated conference and events facilities for up to 1500

Last Friday (8th April) saw Well Met Conferencing at Leeds Metropolitan University officially launch its latest conference facility – The Rose Bowl. The event was a huge success with over 200 guests attending including top business leaders, deans, academics, contractors, suppliers as well as Hilary Benn MP, representatives from Welcome to Yorkshire and key figures from Leeds City Council.

The launch event included a champagne drinks reception in the main reception area, a welcome from Chief Executive Dr Geoff Hitchins and guided tours of the new facilities by the Well Met Conferencing team. The signature glass building is the new home of Leeds Business School and is now one of the largest conference and events venues in Leeds. The new facility is one of the first buildings within the university to include dedicated conference and events spaces providing organisers with a choice of 7 lecture theatres which can accommodate up to 256 delegates as well as breakout facilities for larger conferences. All spaces have the latest in audio visual technology with free wifi broadband, data projection, portable and permanent screens, smart boards, DVD and video monitors, which is all included in the day delegate package.

Kate Pitcher, Business Development Manager for Well Met Conferencing, commented:
“We are delighted that the launch event was such a success and hope we provided our guests with an insight into what the venue has to offer. Since opening the doors to the Rose Bowl only a few weeks ago, we have already hosted a wide range of high profile events including the British Universities Finance Directors Group and the Leeds Architecture Awards dinner. We look forward to raising our profile as a first class events venue and welcoming many more high profile events in the future”

2009 will also see Well Met Conferencing open the Carnegie Village in Headingley which, as well as providing accommodation for 479 students during term time, will also enable the University to offer all year round residential conferences and summer schools. The new additions to Well Met Conferencing will enhance an already exciting portfolio of venues and will make it one of the leading venues in the Leeds and Yorkshire region. Well Met Conferencing also set up a Conference Ambassador Programme at the end of 2008 in a bid to recruit staff as ‘Ambassadors’, to actively promote the University’s events and conference facilities to organisations and societies of which they are members. The programme, which has already attracted £250k worth of business so far, also has a further £100k of potential business out in proposals.

For further media information please contact Gini Wilde, Bonner & Hindley Communications on 0113 279 9909 or email gini@bandhcommunications.co.uk

For further information about Well Met Conferencing and their facilities please contact 0113 8128555 or visit www.wellmetconferencing.com