Going for Gold...
Staffordshire's profile as one of the leading conference and meeting venues in the country will be given a further boost at the 2007 Meetings & Incentive Travel Gala Presentation Dinner, in London, on February 19.
Staffordshire's profile as one of the leading conference and meeting venues in the country will be given a further boost at the 2007 Meetings & Incentive Travel Gala Presentation Dinner, in London, on February 19.
No fewer than four local venues and organisations have been short-listed for awards this year: Keele Conferences; Alton Towers; Crewe Hall Hotel; and the Staffordshire Stoke-on-Trent Conference Bureau.
Last year, Keele's conference team scooped a hat-trick of honours at the prestigious national ceremony, winning awards for 'Best Academic Venue', 'Best Value For Money Conference Venue' and 'Best Conference And Banqueting Staff.'
At the same time the Staffordshire Stoke-on-Trent Conference Bureau – which is part of Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Tourism Team - achieved one of the industry's greatest accolades by winning the Meetings & Incentive Travel Awards' 'Best UK Convention Bureau' title.
It was an achievement made doubly special, not only by the fact that the Bureau managed to beat off stiff competition from fellow finalists London and Edinburgh, but also that they regained a title they first claimed in 2004.
Last year, the Bureau achieved further recognition by winning silver in the Business Tourism category at the Heart of England Tourism awards.
The Staffordshire Stoke-on-Tent Conference Bureau has once again been short-listed for the 'Best UK Convention Bureau' title in this year's M&IT awards, where it will need to get the better of Visit London, Conference Leeds and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.
While Alton Towers is short-listed for the 'Best UK Unusual Venue', Keele Conferences will once again be aiming for success in the 'Best Academic Venue', 'Best Value for Money' and 'Best Conference and Banqueting Staff' categories. Crewe Hall Hotel, meanwhile, is also short listed in the 'Best Conference and Banqueting Staff' category.
Unlike in previous years - when one outright winner was named in each category - gold, silver and bronze awards will be presented to three of the short-listed businesses.
"We'll all be flying the flag very proudly for Staffordshire's conference and business-tourism industry," says Conference Bureau Manager, Claire Williams. "We'd obviously love to bring back five gold medals, but part of the achievement is simply in being named in the short-lists
For further press information, contact: Claire Williams Tel: 01782-232076 E-mail: conference@stoke.gov.uk