Destination
Paula Lorimer,
director of
Harrogate
Convention Centre
“Here in Harrogate I think we’re perhaps
a microcosm of what Yorkshire has to offer
event organisers and delegates. We have
the vibrant town centre with the cool,
independent restaurants and hotels and we’ve
also got the big-name chains with lots of
rooms – all of which are essential in attracting
event organisers.
“Yorkshire’s so well connected too. We have
the East Coast Mainline running right through
the county linking us directly to London and
Edinburgh. We can take advantage of those
links to team up with the rail companies to
offer exclusive visitor discounts.
“Geographically Yorkshire is right in the
centre of the UK, so the motorway links
are excellent, and we have three airports,
including Leeds/Braford International.
“Because of that infrastructure and, of
course the glorious landscape, Yorkshire
is increasingly seen by organisers of major
events as a very attractive destination, in every
sense of the word. Hosting the Grand Depart
of the Tour de France in 2014 was something
of a watershed for the region in terms of global
recognition in our ability and infrastructure.
The welcome we gave, the organisational
expertise and our infrastructure were put on a
world stage and we made a massive success of
the whole thing.”
Green and
pleasant
land
The heads of two of
Yorkshire’s leading
event venues on why
organisers should
choose to hold
events in the county
I
n recent years, Yorkshire
has built up a reputation
as a go-to location for
organisers looking to hold
anything from large scale
sporting or consumer events
to high level conferences and
trade exhibitions. For our
latest destination focus, EN
caught up with the heads of
Yorkshire Event Centre and
Harrogate Convention Centre
to learn more about the
region’s unique appeal.
Yorkshire at a
glance
Population: 5.3 million
Size: 2.9 million acres
Total annual visits: Over
216 million
Economy: Approx.
£110bn a year
Heather Parry,
managing director of
the Yorkshire Event
Centre
“We’re proud to live and work in such a
beautiful county. Yorkshire’s central location
is a big plus point. We are based close to
Harrogate, which is easy to get to by road, rail
or air, and the Yorkshire Event Centre is set
within 250 acres of green space which means
fabulous views and plenty of free parking.
“The YEC has undergone a recent £11m
build of a new hall, which has taken us up
to the next level in terms of attracting new
business and large-scale conferences and
events. Event bookers are choosing the YEC
because holding an event here fulfils corporate
social responsibility, as all of our profits
go back to registered charity the Yorkshire
Agricultural Society. This is the same for all
the business based on the Great Yorkshire
Showground including our sister events venue
the Pavilions of Harrogate. Finally, we go
above and beyond for our clients and as well as
offering first class facilities, we offer first class
customer service – very Yorkshire!”
event w i f i . com
April — 45