A new campaign has been launched inviting business professionals and industry experts to become ‘Conference Champions’ and help bring more events to the region.
Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY) is urging individuals from a wide range of sectors to play their part in attracting major conferences and other events.
Professionals, academics and association members who have influence are being asked to help bring conferences they attend elsewhere back to Hull and Yorkshire.
The Conference Champions will have a key role to play as a driving force in attracting national and international events, raising Hull and East Yorkshire’s profile as a premier destination.
Chris Blacksell, Chair of VHEY, said: “Supporting the visitor economy isn’t just about leisure visitors – bringing conferences to the area is also a vital part of the work we do to increase visitor numbers, which will in turn help support local businesses.
“We have fantastic conference facilities in the area, from very large venues used to hosting thousands of attendees, to smaller, quirky venues that can offer a unique conference experience for everyone.
“What we really need is people who are in positions to help us influence conference organisers to choose us a place to come.
“If you’re a professional, an academic, a member of an association, or in any role and you think you might be able to encourage someone to do that, we’d really appreciate it if you would give a little back to the area and join us as a Conference Champion.
“We’re doing a huge amount of work already but you might be able to give us a little help to push some conferences over the line, and help the area benefit from the increased income that they bring.”
The call to recruit Conference Champions coincides with English Tourism Week – national tourist board VisitEngland’s annual campaign to raise awareness of the importance of the sector – which is running from March 14-23.
Conference delegates are commonly high yield visitors, providing a significant economic boost to the host area.
The new Conference Champions programme aims to build on the region’s success in hosting major events, which recently included the Cultural Tides conference at Hull Truck Theatre with keynote speaker Galyna Grygorenko, Ukraine’s First Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications.
The city will also host the UK Pride Organisers’ Network Conference 2025 in October.
Andy Train, Chair of Pride in Hull, was instrumental in securing the event.
He said: “Hosting the UK Pride Organisers’ Network Conference 2025 in Hull is a fantastic achievement, and a testament to the city’s commitment to supporting and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community.
“The collaboration with VHEY has clearly been instrumental in making this bid successful, showcasing the region’s dedication to creating welcoming spaces and events for everyone.
“This conference will be an excellent opportunity to bring Pride organisers together, share experiences and celebrate the progress made in promoting diversity and inclusion.
“It also reinforces Hull’s position as a leading destination for LGBTQIA+ events and tourism. Congratulations to everyone involved in making this happen – it’s a proud moment for Hull and the wider community.”
Individuals from numerous organisations have already committed to being Conference Champions to help attract similarly large-scale events, with the support of the VHEY conference team.
VHEY will host regular gatherings of the network of Conference Champions, to share updates and news of upcoming events.
Hugh Jones, Managing Director of AV, stage and lighting equipment company HPSS, said: “As a company that provides event support services across the UK, we’ve seen how much Hull and East Yorkshire now has to offer with a wide range of venues.
“When we’ve suggested to clients that they use a venue here, they’ve often started out sceptical but have been delighted by the quality of the venues and the affordability of accommodation and restaurants.
“Conference Champions is such a great initiative. We’ve found that many people aren’t aware of the facilities this region has to offer, and it often just takes a simple suggestion. Once they visit, they tend to come back.
“More conferences and events can only increase employment opportunities for event technicians and other venue staff.”
The Conference Champions programme forms part of VHEY’s new action plan to help build a thriving, prosperous visitor economy.
The action plan’s four strategic priorities are – grow value; quality destinations; support productivity; and embrace a new landscape.
- To find out more about the Conference Champions programme visit www.visithull.org/conferences/our-team/conference-champions/ and to register your interest email [email protected]
Ryan Shaw, Revenue Manager at Hull Trains, said: “I’m delighted to be part of the VHEY Conference Champions programme.
“Hull Trains is proud to be an active member of the local community, and we’re always looking for ways that we can champion what our area has to offer and help our local businesses grow.
“We’ve worked with VHEY on a number of exciting projects over the past year, including sending over 100 volunteers to London for Yorkshire Day to spread the word about how brilliant our part of the world is.
“It’s great to be continuing the partnership by supporting this latest initiative.”
Janthi Mills-Ward, Joint CEO of Hull Truck Theatre, said: “It’s always fantastic when conferences, whether large or small, come to Hull and the East Riding.
“It’s a wonderful chance to highlight all that the region has to offer, and who better to advocate for why this area is the perfect choice for a national conference than those who live and work here, experiencing its benefits every day.
“I’d encourage people to become a Conference Champion, and proudly promote the region’s accessibility, diverse venues, rich culture and exceptional hospitality.”
Samatha Dunion, General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Hull, said: “At DoubleTree by Hilton Hull, we are proud to support the Conference Champions programme in showcasing the region’s affordability and diverse offering.