Leeds is crowned best events destination at UK conference awards

Press release issued on behalf of ConferenceLeeds

ConferenceLeeds, the conference bureau for the city of Leeds, is thrilled to announce that Leeds has been crowned Best Events Destination at the 2020 C&IT Awards, which was held virtually on Thursday the 24th of September.

The city of Leeds was shortlisted for the award for Best Events Destination which aimed to recognise the UK’s best conferencing destination. Leeds was crowned the winner after impressing judges with its leadership and overall conferencing proposition that has been used to attract conferences and events to the city.

The city has hosted a range of successful events over the last 18 months, including the Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons Conference which was held at The Royal Armouries, one of Leeds’ unique venues, and attracted 250 delegates from the UK and across Europe. The British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons (BAETS) which returned to the city and brought 150 international delegates to discuss ‘The Future of Endocrine Surgery’ and The National Hydrogen Summit which saw 260 delegates come together from industry, academia and politics to develop a cohesive plan to reduce carbon emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2050.

Despite the challenges the city has faced amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Leeds has repositioned itself within the MICE industry and the team at Conference Leeds have launched a new website, which showcases Leeds’ conferencing offering and how organisers that connect with the city can experience the exceptional.

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “We are thrilled that the city of Leeds has been recognised at this year’s C&IT Magazine Awards. The city already has so much to offer and is constantly improving to attract new visitors, conferences and industries to the city. In the current climate the whole of the city will welcome this accolade at what is such a difficult time.”

ENDS

For more information about ConferenceLeeds, please contact conferenceleeds@ilkagency.com 

Notes to editors

Leeds is the 5^th most popular conferencing destination in the UK, according to the 2019 BMEIS report, contributing £212.7 million to the local economy in 2018, (UKCAMS). The 2019 STEAM survey recorded that Leeds welcomed 30.42 million tourism visits in 2019, a 4.3% increase from 2018. The visitor economy sector is growing at an impressive rate, with day visitors up by 22% and overnight stays increasingly by 28%.

ConferenceLeeds offers tailored conference propositions designed to delight and surprise. Offering a dedicated planning team, from venues and accommodation to catering and logistics, ConferenceLeeds works through every stage and detail to deliver an event like no other.

Through an extensive list of partners, the ConferenceLeeds team provides unrivalled access to key people across the city, including thought leaders and industry bodies – opening endless doors to create exciting opportunities.

For more information visit www.conference-leeds.co.uk