Firmly on the conference map

Birmingham continues to live up to its status as one of Europe’s most popular and thriving conference destinations and events centres, boasting an exceptional range of internationally-renowned venues and state-of-the-art facilities.

With an enviable location at the heart of the country’s comprehensive and highly accessible transport network, the city is the perfect host, and the best placed for events of all sizes.

Ian Taylor, commercial director at Marketing Birmingham, which manages the city’s business tourism programme Meet Birmingham, said: “Birmingham was voted the top UK events destination outside London in the British Meetings & Events Industry Survey 2010/11, reinforcing our message that we are an outstanding city to host and deliver first class events. Delegates and organisers are always impressed with the quality and variety of our venues and continue to return to a city which welcomes major events like no other.

“Birmingham’s continued investment in its infrastructure and transport networks, as well as welcoming a record number of visitors in 2010, demonstrates a thriving city that is refusing to stand still.”

A changing landscape
Birmingham is a changing city with ambition, drive, energy and ideas. From infrastructure and transport to retail and culture, the city is preparing itself for a bright future. 

Birmingham’s New Street station is currently undergoing a £600 million redevelopment, which will see its annual passenger capacity increase to 52 million a year, transforming the hub of the nation’s rail network into a spectacular 21st century gateway.

Birmingham Airport’s planned £65 million runway extension will see the city offer non-stop flights to an increased number of long haul destinations including India, China and America’s west coast.

The largest public library in the UK is set for Centenary Square in 2013. Highlighting the city’s intellectual and cultural credentials and drawing even more visitors to the city, the library will create new opportunities for learning and access while providing increased space and improved climatic conditions for storage of its world famous archives.

Birmingham’s hotel offer
Birmingham and its wider region can lay claim to more than 28,600 available bed spaces, from luxury hotels and apartments to boutique hotels and budget accommodation. As well as a good night’s sleep, Birmingham’s hotels offer a wide choice of conferencing and events spaces to suit all budgets.

Hyatt Regency Birmingham provides modern luxury in the centre of Birmingham, perfectly situated opposite The ICC. With spacious guestrooms, a highly-regarded restaurant and beautiful spa, the hotel also boasts eight meeting rooms, designed to ensure total flexibility and suitability.

The Crowne Plaza Birmingham benefits from a purpose built conference floor with 11 meeting rooms, seating up to 300 delegates. All rooms reap the benefits of natural daylight, state-of-the-art technology and a manned reception. Being located at the heart of the city centre, delegates are able to explore the city at ease after a meeting.

Mint Hotel Birmingham, which is celebrating its tenth year, is designed with the business traveller in mind. Situated on the edge of the city’s Brindleyplace, the hotel’s 238 guest bedrooms are designed in a light, fresh and contemporary style, while its five meeting spaces, which can accommodate up to 100 for a reception, benefit from floor-to-ceiling windows, sound-proofed walls and an iMac in each room.

New developments
Birmingham’s hospitality sector is eagerly awaiting some exciting additions to its existing portfolio with nearly 30 hotels currently at various stages in planning and construction.

Two flagship hotels are planned for the city by Sanguine Hospitality Limited. These include one of Birmingham’s newest developments – the upscale boutique Hotel Indigo, occupying two floors of The Cube and including 52 bedrooms and ten suites. Indigo, which is due to open in December, will also feature a luxury club and spa, including hydrotherapy pool, thermal treatment rooms and state-of-the-art gymnasium, and will be located below Marco Pierre White’s new Steakhouse Bar and Grill, which promises ultra modern 25th floor dining with stunning 360 degree city views.

Sanguine’s acquisition of Cumberland House on Broad Street will see the Birmingham landmark undergo a £34 million transformation into a 285-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel, the largest in the chain’s Europe operations. The new hotel will feature meeting facilities for up to 30 delegates, a gym and free Wi-Fi throughout public areas and bedrooms.

Simon Matthews-Williams, Chairman, Sanguine Hospitality Limited, said: “Our significant investment in Birmingham reflects our confidence in the city as a growing leisure and business break destination. We recognise the vast opportunity offered by Birmingham’s visitor economy and are extremely proud to be part of two of the most exciting developments currently under construction in the city. The Hampton by Hilton and Indigo at The Cube offer quite different propositions and reflect the vast array of visitors to the city and their differing requirements.”

A new £24 million hotel in the City Park Gate district of Birmingham will open shortly. Hotel La Tour has chosen Birmingham for its flagship development in a new chain of city centre hotels, with 174 bedrooms and suites, restaurant and bar and a dedicated conference floor with flexible space accommodating 150 delegates theatre style. The eye-catching, three-sided building will be close to Bullring Shopping Centre and the Central Business District and within easy walking distance of the city’s main railway stations.

Drayton Manor Park’s new four star, 150-room hotel officially opened in August. The luxury hotel offers facilities for corporate hospitality events and private functions, with its new suite accommodating up to 150 delegates for conferences, exhibitions and product launches. Three smaller, modern rooms can host up to 12 people, making them ideal for board meetings.

A proposed £120 million Resorts World leisure and entertainment complex in partnership with Genting Casinos at the NEC could be up and running by early 2014, featuring a 180-bedroom, four star hotel and spa, banqueting and conference centre, retail units and multi-screen cinema.

Lib Dems welcomed back
The Liberal Democrats return to Birmingham to hold their Autumn Conference from 17 – 21 September 2011 after a successful Spring Conference in March 2010. Held at leading conference venue The ICC, the event is expected to attract around 8,000 delegates to Birmingham, providing a welcome boost to the city’s hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and other businesses.

The conference builds on Birmingham’s reputation for hosting world-class events and ensures the city is now firmly established as part of the major political party conference circuit. Birmingham was the only UK city to secure all three main political parties between 2008 and 2010 and will have delivered a total of seven party political conferences in the five years leading up to 2012.

the City’s attractions
Birmingham is a city with over 1,000 shops, 200 restaurants, a world-class arts scene and buzzing nightlife. Its attractions are also a viable option for organisers choosing to host an event in the city.

Thinktank, Birmingham science museum is one of the city’s premier centres for business events – a place where the historic and the ultra modern come alive to provide an awe-inspiring environment for all corporate events. Facilities on offer include the 70 seat Planetarium with state-of-the-art projection facilities and 180 seat Thinktank Theatre, boasting full delegate voting and video conferencing capabilities. In addition, the 356 seat cinema is available for screenings and presentations as well as a 900sqm temporary exhibition hall and three suites offering a choice of formats from boardroom to banqueting.

venuebirmingham is the new, dedicated conferencing and events service for meetings, hospitality and accommodation within the historic University of Birmingham. Among its portfolio are the 13 new meeting rooms in the recently refurbished Winterbourne House – a beautiful Edwardian Arts and Crafts property, set in seven acres of botanic gardens. All delegates have access to enjoy the gardens and the terrace can also be hired for drinks receptions, offering stunning views over the formal lawns at Winterbourne.

Birmingham Hippodrome is one of the city’s most exciting and vibrant theatres dating back to 1899, with one of the largest stages in the country. The theatre offers outstanding conference and event facilities, meeting rooms, a large restaurant overlooking the piazza levels plus a flexible studio space, The Patrick Centre, with 200 seats.

sporting venues
Birmingham’s sporting summer saw a historic victory by England’s cricket team over India at the new Edgbaston Stadium, the fastest 100m time ever recorded at the newly-revamped Alexander Stadium and an AEGON Classic victory for tennis’ most promising rising star at the Edgbaston Priory Club.

While the heroics of cricketer Alistair Cook, athlete Asafa Powell and tennis star Sabine Lisicki will live long in the memory of sports fans across the country, the city’s sporting venues continue to offer event organisers and delegates a unique backdrop for meetings.

The new Edgbaston Stadium, home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, has consolidated its status as one of the leading venues in international cricket following a £32 million redevelopment. The venue now offers an unparalleled range of conference and event facilities at the cricket ground, including ten additional meeting spaces, a new conference and banqueting suite for 700 guests, 1050sqm of exhibition space and four new executive boxes which can host up to 24 people.

The Belfry Golf Course, the venue for some momentous Ryder Cup matches, is set in 550 acres of stunning English countryside, with 22 function suites providing an inspirational environment in which to do business. The resort’s international reputation, stunning setting and bright, airy rooms make it a truly memorable backdrop for corporate events of all kinds.

Aston Villa Football Club is steeped in history. Its famous old ground Villa Park prides itself on delivering Premier League quality performances, whether on a match day or non-match day. The stadium has 95 executive boxes, elegant restaurants and an extensive range of suites, which makes it the ideal venue for special functions and business events. The Holte Suite, situated at the traditional Holte End of the stadium, can host 700 in a theatre style, 110 classroom style and 460 cabaret style.

Meet Birmingham
Bringing your next conference and event to Birmingham can be made easy with the help of Birmingham Convention Bureau.  Having someone you can trust with your event planning will prove invaluable, with local knowledge, personal contacts and an instinctive sense for what will suit you best, all working to the benefit of your event. Services provided by Birmingham Convention Bureau include venue location, online accommodation booking and social programme planning, along with an award-winning Event Support Package.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more details on Birmingham’s conference and event offering, visit www.meetbirmingham.com