Visit Wales Launches North Wales Business Events Boost

North Wales has seen the formation of Meet North Wales, which has been created by Go North Wales to maximise the opportunities created by Visit Wales’ investment in business events, after receiving £50,000 funding from the Regional Tourism Engagement Fund. Meet North Wales aims to promote and target relevant business events products, venues and experiences across the region to work together to offer business events relevant ideas, itineraries and suggestions for event professionals and buyers. The group consists of a diverse range of businesses in both the corporate and incentive markets including Bangor University, Venue Cymru, Portmeirion and Adventure Parc Snowdonia.

Welsh Government’s investment in North Wales is part of the new approach to attract business events in North Wales and throughout the country, which could achieve an estimated economic benefit of up to £24 million per annum from UK and international associations, public and third sector meetings, corporate meetings and team building events. 

Venue Cymru, located in Llandudno, North Wales, has unveiled a £2.7 million upgrade to raise the standards of its conference and events facilities following Welsh Government investment, as part of Visit Wales Business Events’ objective to bring more conferences, meetings and exhibitions to the country.

The redevelopment is designed to attract a greater number of business events to the venue, which offers space for up to 5,000 delegates, through the creation of four sub-plenary spaces to compliment Venue Cymru’s 1,500 seat auditorium and 2000 sqm+ of exhibition space.

The new and improved arts, conference and events venue will increase visitor numbers to the venue and North Wales, which will have a significant impact on the economy of the town, the county and the region. The venue has already confirmed several large events up to 2024.

This year will also see Wales host MeetGB at ICC Wales and The Celtic Manor Resort – VisitBritain’s flagship event for the international business events community – for the first time in April 2020. European and North American event planners and agencies attending MeetGB will have the opportunity to explore the region on a Welcome to North Wales familiarisation trip, as well as Cardiff and South Wales on the Welcome to South Wales trip. The North Wales trip will include a visit to Venue Cymru and  a selection of incentive experiences including a surfing lesson, RibRide experience and zip lining. 

Meet North Wales are supporting Wales Week in London (22nd February until 8th March) with three events to showcase the region to event buyers and planners. 

The events include a private dinner at Bryn Williams Somerset House restaurant for London based events buyers and planners; a ‘Wales vs England cheese off networking event’ showcasing Welsh produce; and a Welsh gin tasting evening at the London Gin Club in collaboration with Aber Falls Distillery in North Wales. 

Head of Business Events at Welsh Government, Heledd Williams said: “It is a very exciting time for Wales. In 2019 we saw the opening of ICC Wales in Newport, the first large-scale convention centre of its kind in Wales, and we have begun 2020 with the redevelopment of Venue Cymru and formation of Meet North Wales to support buyers and planners in choosing Wales as their preferred event destination. These large-scale developments have firmly placed Wales on the map as a leading business events destination and show that we have huge potential to draw further business events to our award-winning venues and destinations, which already have a fantastic track record in hosting major events.”

For further information on Wales products and to sign up to e-news please visit the website MeetInWales.com.