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UKinbound launches 2010 convention at WTM
Story published: Wednesday, 11 November 2009
UKinbound and Welcome to Yorkshire have launched details of the trade association’s 2010 Convention, which will be held in Yorkshire, at World Travel Market (WTM).
Taking place in York from 3 to 5 February 2010, the UKinbound Convention 2010 will focus on preparing tourism business for the upturn and the 2012 Olympic Games.
Mary Rance, Chief Executive UKinbound, said:
“We are delighted to be working with Welcome to Yorkshire to bring our members to York. This Convention will be an important chance for the travel trade to begin its negotiating with those responsible for the Olympic Games. With many questions still to be answered around ticketing, accommodation and transport, this phase of communication between the trade and those delivering the Games cannot be missed.”
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said:
“Welcome to Yorkshire is working to elevate Yorkshire’s profile as an internationally recognised destination and we welcome the opportunity afforded us by UKinbound to do just that. By showcasing our region to tourism operators attending the 2010 Convention we can actively inspire and encourage them to sell our destination worldwide; the impact of which cannot be underestimated in the lead up to 2012.”
Gillian Cruddas Chief Executive of Visit York said:
“We are delighted UKinbound has chosen York for its annual conference. This event offers a unique opportunity to showcase York and Yorkshire to over 200 of the UK’s top tour operators. We will be pulling out all the stops to ensure these operators experience the very best of what York’s hotels, visitor attractions, shops and restaurants have to offer.”
With the unveiling of the newly renovated JORVIK Viking Centre, a £2million investment in the Yorkshire Museum, the return of York Mystery Plays and the opening of York’s *first five-star hotel (Cedar Court) – amongst many other exciting developments – there has never been a better time for tour operators to make sure York is top of the list in their UK itineraries.
The event already has a number of extremely high-profile speakers confirmed including;
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Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, former Director General of the CBI and former Minister of State for UK Trade and Investment
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Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism
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Tobias Ellwood MP, Conservative Shadow Minister for Tourism, Licensing and Gambling
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Walter Dobrowolski, Managing Director, SportsMark
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Donna Taylor, Head of Accommodation, London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG)
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Patrick Hoffstetter, Managing Director, lastminue.com UK and Ireland
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Charles Prew, CEO Barceló UK Hotels
Accommodation will be at the Marriott York Hotel and the Holiday Inn York. Delegates will also be taken on a dine-around at local restaurants, and the Gala Dinner and UKinbound Annual Awards will be held at the spectacular Carlton Towers. The first 50 tour operators to book the event will also be entered into a draw to win a free room upgrade for this amazing gothic-style house dating back to the 17th Century.
The event includes seminars, a business-to-business workshop - enabling tour operators and suppliers to pre-book short meetings - and familiarisation trips to enable tour operators to experience unique itineraries of the local region. The event will also include political and industry panel debates focusing on visas and the Olympic Games.
For full details go to
www.ukinbound.org/convention2010.php or call
0207 395 7500.
*star rating is yet to be awarded
Ends
For more information please contact:
Helen James, Communications Manager, 0207 395 7500, helenjames@ukinbound.org
Notes to Editors
Location
The Convention 2010 will take place in York, a lively, riverside city with beautiful historic streets, a vibrant café culture, stunning museums and art galleries and numerous world class attractions. York is a year-round destination steeped in history and culture, supported by an extensive selection of hotel accommodation and with easy access for motorway and mainline train networks.
The Convention sessions will take place at York Racecourse, one of the city’s flagship venues and a regular winner of Racecourse of the Year.
Accommodation
Delegates have a choice of accommodation, at either the Marriott York Hotel or the Holiday Inn York.
Ukinbound Member-Only Offers
- Book and pay before 18 December 2009 and save up to £150!
- Delegates can also save £50 on their 2nd delegate booking and £100 on their 3rd!
- The first 50 Tour Operators to book will be in with a chance of winning one of the 15 free room upgrades for the spectacular Carlton Towers, on Thursday 4 February after the Gala Dinner.
About UKinbound
UKinbound was set up in 1977 and is the only trade association that represents the UK’s export tourism businesses. For more information visit www.ukinbound.org. Inbound tourism generated £16.4 billion in export earning from 31.9 million international visitors to the UK in 2008 (ONS International Passenger Survey).
• Welcome to Yorkshire is the official tourism agency for Yorkshire and the Humber region. It exists to represent and help generate sustainable business for the region's tourism industry which is worth £6.3bn to the region annually.
Our website
www.yorkshire.com recently won Best Tourist Board website
• Welcome to Yorkshire is supported by Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency charged with improving the Yorkshire and Humber economy.
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