BUSINESS TOURISM: WHAT’S NEW 2014

JANUARY Dorney Court, near Windsor in Berkshire The Old Coach House Barn is a stunning new venue set within the grounds of Dorney Court. The Barn is a state-of-the-art facility suitable for weddings, private events, conferences and corporate functions. The Barn has capacity for 140 (seated) or 200 (standing) and benefits from its own spacious landscaped private courtyard and terrace. Dorney Court is a Grade 1 listed Tudor Manor House widely regarded as one of the country's finest. The Barn, formerly occupied by a Victorian brewery and a coach house has been refurbished to the highest standards of contemporary design without losing its unique sense of history. The Barn opens for business from 1 January 2014. http://www.dorneycourt.co.uk Windermere Marina Apartments, Cumbria January Exclusive new waterside penthouses boasting glorious views of Northern England’s largest inland marina will be welcoming their first guests from January 2014. Part of a £3.5million investment in Windermere Marina Village, the thirteen individually-styled properties suit groups of between two and ten people, and all have spacious, southerly-facing balconies or terraces. www.windermeremarinavillage.co.uk Manchester Central- sustainability Manchester Central is launching carbon footprint reports in January - where they benchmark the carbon footprint of events for clients (to help them reduce their carbon footprint in the future). They are also opening a new onsite recycling centre, among other sustainability initiatives, as they go for the next IS0 standards. Europe’s largest archery tournament, Telford Telford will host Europe’s largest archery tournament and trade show next year. The International Centre Telford will host the prestigious European Archery Festival for 2014, a four day event which has been billed as a true festival of archery. Running from the 24th to 26th January 2014, the event looks set to be much more than simply a tournament for the elite of the archery world. Nottingham set to welcome North of England Education Conference 2014 Nottingham will host the UK’s largest annual education conference in January 2014, welcoming more than 450 delegates from schools and academies, higher and further education and local authorities to the city for the North of England Education Conference. SAE International, Powertrains, Fuels and Lubricants Meeting 2014 The SAE International, Powertrains, Fuels and Lubricants Meeting 2014 will be held at the ICC in Birmingham. FEBRUARY

Chocolate Kitchen, Hampton Court Palace Visitors will be in for a sweet treat as King George I’s royal hot chocolate will once again be served in the newly restored Chocolate Kitchen. This will be the first of many experiences that Historic Royal Palaces will unveil in the Baroque palace to commemorate 300 years since George I’s accession to the throne. The 18th century ‘Chocolate Kitchen’ will combine the re-creation of historic interiors with live interpretation and an innovative audio visual display which will show visitors how this royal beverage was made by Thomas Tosier-personal chocolate maker to George I and George II. Visitors will discover how royal hot chocolate was prepared but and also have the chance to sample this royal Georgian delicacy. Opens 14th February. Reopening of The Natural History Museum, Oxford February The Oxford University Museum of Natural History houses the University's scientific collections of zoological, entomological and geological specimens. The Museum itself is a Grade 1 listed building, renowned for its spectacular neo-Gothic architecture. Among its most famous features are the Oxfordshire dinosaurs, the dodo, and the Swifts in the tower. The Museum is an ideal location for conferences and receptions. The breathtaking neo-Gothic architecture of the main court, and the unique displays, provide the perfect backdrop for corporate or private entertaining. http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/index.htm “Bee Green” with Lancaster London’s New Delegates Package Lancaster London, one of Europe’s leading meeting venues, which boasts 10 beehives on its roof, has launched a new “Bee Green” package for delegates, priced at £70 +VAT. The “Bee Green” package includes the hire of one of the hotel’s Forest Suites between 9am and 5pm, a seasonal working buffet lunch, plus three servings of Fairtrade tea, coffee and biscuits throughout the day. Stationery and house bottled water is also provided. Lancaster London has a deep commitment to corporate social responsibility; hence a percentage of the Daily Delegate rate will be donated to Carbon Clear to fund projects around the world, thus helping to reduce the carbon impact on the Earth’s resources.

Lancaster London creates an independently tailored experience with culture, charm and character that complements the excellent service. The hotel’s conference rooms, which have recently undergone an £11.5m refurbishment, have the ability to cater for all sizes of events, from small business meetings, to large receptions for up to 3,000 people. Develop your winning team at Lee Valley White Water Centre When it comes to team building and Corporate Hospitality then Lee Valley White Water Centre could be the place to get your team motivated or seal that important business deal.

The inspirational London 2012 venue, where Team GB won gold and silver during the Games, offers packages to suit all budgets and requirements, including room and equipment hire, team building and water activities and catering. Expansion work on the centre’s main building has increased the capacity of the spectacular café area to 180 people for a conference seating plan or 100 for a round table layout. The café terrace has a newly extended and elevated wooden decking area which boasts a unique view over the Olympic Standard Competition course. This is in addition to the two meeting rooms which come complete with high-specification audio visual equipment. After the meetings and presentations are over, your team will be ready for some challenges that aim to improve their collaboration and communications skills. Encourage that survival instinct in the shipwrecked scenario, where teams work together to build a raft out of barrels, planks and ropes and make it across the lake back to dry land. Alternatively, take the wipe out challenge, where teams tackle an inflatable obstacle course on the lake, which is sure to have participants working together as a team as they attempt to complete the course without falling into the water.

Bronze Corporate Packages start from £850 for up to nine people, and if you’re lucky, might include watching Team GB in training.

Heralded as the best white water course in the world, Lee Valley White Water Centre provides a unique experience that will see participants challenged on the same course that the world’s best athletes faced with strong bonds of comradeship formed on the water.

www.gowhitewater.co.uk House of Parliament UK Parliament's House of Commons has made 15 meeting rooms available for corporate hire to fund renovation work

The House of Commons will open for corporate and private events from January 2014. A selection of 15 dining rooms and pavilions will be put up for hire with costs ranging from £900 for an evening event to almost £1,000 an hour for a full day event NEW VENUE: Engine Shed, Bristol Create, collaborate and innovate in Brunel’s boardroom suite of meeting and networking rooms, situated at the heart of Bristol’s transport hub. Bristol’s ‘Engine Shed’ is a modern venue, part-funded by the University of Bristol, within an iconic, historic building at the legendary Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Temple Meads railway station. Be inspired in meeting rooms that include Brunel’s own original thinking place, which includes three traditional meeting rooms ranging from 8 – 70 capacity, a modern 50-seat seminar space and a reception venue accommodating up to 200 people. Together they offer the flexibility to cater for away days, board meetings, screenings, video conferencing, presentations and many other business events. All rooms have excellent IT and AV facilities, and the venue’s catering partner can provide delicious food. Check availability online http://www.engine-shed.co.uk/board-room-suite/ and find out our hire rates, email bookings@engine-shed.co.uk or call +44 (0)117 943 4843 @EngineShed_BB Ex Royal Hunting Lodge To Officially Open New Luxury Events Venue The Wood Norton Hotel, originally built as a hunting lodge for European Royalty in 1897, will be officially opening its new luxury events venue in early February.

The new venue, called ‘The Orangery’, is a beautifully designed building, that sits opposite the main house of the hotel. It cost £1m to build, and has taken over 4 months to erect. It has a glass frontage providing stunning views over the Malverns, and the Worcestershire countryside.

The Wood Norton, which is situated in the heart of Worcestershire, just a few miles from the Cotswolds, and Shakespeares’s Stratford-Upon-Avon, will be hosting an exclusive complimentary champagne reception to celebrate the opening of the new venue.

Over the years The Wood Norton has played host to an array of fantastic and fascinating events, from extravagant parties to the filming of various Dr.Who episodes. In the early 1900’s, when owned by European Royalty, The Wood Norton was the venue for the marriage of Princess Louise of Orleans – the Grandmother of the present King of Spain.

The main house of the hotel re-opened at the end of November 2012 after undergoing a huge £4 million restoration project. The hotel has 50 bedrooms and a restaurant that sits 80 people.

The new Orangery can cater up to 120 during the day and 180 in the evening, allowing couples to create their perfect wedding whatever the party size. Whilst for the corporate world it acts as the perfect conference venue, accommodating 120 people sitting down. It has its own separate kitchen and bar. www.thewoodnorton.com MARCH London to get super yacht hotel

London is to get a £100m super yacht hotel this March. Sunborn International is set to launch the hotel in Royal Victoria docks. Originally serving as Sunborn Princess at the renowned Naantali Spa in Finland, Sunborn London has undergone a complete refurbishment before its London launch. The 120m yacht will offer 138 bedrooms and suites over five floors with entertaining space, including a restaurant, bar, auditorium and conference rooms, state of the art gym and outside decks and private terraces. www.sunbornlondon.com The Pig near Bath, Bath Hunstrete House near Bath will open as The Pig near Bath on 10 MarchF. Tucked in the folds of the Mendip Hills, it will be designed in the same shabby chic style that has become the brands signature and will feature a restaurant, walled kitchen garden, 30 bedrooms in the house and garden and spa treatment rooms. www.thepighotel.com

Opening of Lee Valley Velopark Lee Valley VeloPark on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will be open from March 2014. You'll be able to choose from track cycling, racing the road circuit, tackling mountain bike trails or riding the berms on the re-modelled Olympic BMX track. The former Olympic venue offers a great incentive or team-building opportunity all year round with both under-cover and outside places to try all four cycling disciplines. www.visitleevalley.org.uk Hampton Manor, Solihull From March 2014, Hampton Manor’s Peel’s Courtyard will be open for the first time for meetings/conferences/product launches/exhibitions and exclusive private dining and events and exclusive weddings. Peel’s Courtyard used to be the original courtyard for the horses and carriages entering the manor, which was built in 1855 by Sir Frederick Peel, son of Sir Robert Peel – a former Prime Minister. It is now an impressive, stylish space filled with natural light, retaining all of the original features, housed in a stunning glass atrium. ‘The Birches’ barn in the grounds of Hampton Manor, has also been converted and will host Civil Ceremonies, exhibitions, drinks receptions etc, and will be launched from the 1st March. http://hamptonmanor.eu/meet/ Internations Conference on urban Health, Manchester Manchester has won a bid to host the 11th International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH) through its connection with valued Manchester conference ambassador Dr Arpana Verma. The conference at Manchester Central will act as a global forum for health issues in urban environments and is expected to attract over 1,000 multidisciplinary scientists, practitioners and senior policy makers to Manchester Central, 4-7 March 2014. 2014 Liberal Democrats Spring Conference, York York has been selected to host the 2014 Liberal Democrats Spring Conference. A major coup for the city’s business tourism sector, this three day conference will be held in March 2014 at the York Barbican Centre with the Novotel Hotel as the party conference headquarters for the duration of the event. Over 1000 delegates are expected to attend and Visit York estimates the economic value to the city at over £600,000.

Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines will offer a new daily code-share non-stop service from Heathrow to Seattle, beginning the start of the summer airline season 29 March 2014. Seattle is one of Delta’s fastest-growing international gateways. At

present only British Airways fly the route, a 9hrs 35mins sector using a Boeing 747. www.delta.com

New EasyJet routes EasyJet has announced new routes for summer 2014. Its new routes include Gatwick to Bucharest, Romania and Manchester to Venice. Other new additions were Liverpool to Larnaca, Cyprus and Stansted to Sofia, Bulgaria. The low-cost airline is to operate 58,000 flights to and from the UK during the summer, which will kick off on 30 March 2014. LEICESTER TO HOST 2014 UKSEDS CONFERENCE Latest event bidding success to bring 300 delegates to University of Leicester from 1-2 March 2014 UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS) has selected Leicester as the host city for its 2014 UK conference. UKSEDS is the UK's national student space society and will bring around 300 delegates to the University of Leicester for the conference on 1-2 March 2014 including a social event on 2 March. Leicester was chosen as the host city for its large array of space companies and facilities in the local area, especially the University's Physics and Space departments and local industry. Leicester Shire Promotions will also support UKSEDS by providing an online accommodation booking service and visitor information for all delegates.

DATE TBC - likely to be Q1 Birmingham Airport runway extension Work is currently underway at Birmingham Airport and once completed in the spring of 2014 BHX will have operational a single 3,000m long runway allowing for non-stop flights to Los Angeles and Hong Kong with the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 and, for the future, Singapore by Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. Birmingham is the only UK airport with planning consent for a runway extension which, when completed in 2014 after a £200 million programme, will place Los Angeles, Tokyo, Shanghai and Singapore in direct access. www.aerbt.co.uk/#4674 Tune Hotel, Birmingham Birmingham city centre's Beneficial Building is set to undergo a multi-million pound revamp which will see it re-open as a 137-bedroom hotel, 53 serviced apartments and a new café/restaurant next year. It will be the first Tune Hotel in England outside of London. http://www.tunehotels.com/my/en/ Pig on the Beach, Dorset Spring The creation of Robin Hutson, the nation’s most inspired hotelier, together with co-Director David Elton and co investor Jim Ratcliffe, The Pig-on the Beach will be located above Studland Bay, Dorset, one of the most stunning beaches in England. The beautiful 18th century Manor House, which is a National Trust property, is currently owned by Andrew and Karen Purkis and they will continue to operate the hotel until the end of November 2012. The listed hotel with slightly eccentric architecture was originally the holiday home for the Bankes Family from nearby Kingston Lacey, it is surrounded by 22 acres of farmland and borders the coastal path, it has dramatic views of Old Harry Rocks and the Jurassic Coast.Like its sibling in the forest, The Pig - on the Beach will feature a kitchen garden of home-grown produce. www.thepighotel.com/on-the-beach Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland, Northumberland Spring Blanchland’s newest and oldest hotel opened in spring of 2014. Calcot Hotels will be working very closely with The Lord Crewe Trust and aim to re-create a high quality inn, with 21 really comfortable and well-kept rooms, a strong reputation for great food, good beer, wine, and genuine hospitality for all.

www.lordcrewearms.co.uk The Mondrian, London Spring Mondrian London brings the heat, intensity, energy and sexy Sunset Strip vibe of the original Hollywood Mondrian to the iconic Sea Containers building on the South Bank of the Thames. The first Mondrian property in Europe, Mondrian London buzzes with instant gratification, the perfect provocative moment, perpetual possibility and confident cool. In addition to 359 guest rooms and suites, many with outdoor space and river views, guests will find a riverside bar and brasserie with outside seating, a rooftop lounge and terrace, Mondrian London’s signature agua Spa with six treatment suites, relaxation space and a manicure and pedicure room, and a screening room with state-of-the-art audio visual equipment. https://www.morganshotelgroup.com/mondrian/mondrian-london Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery Spring 2014 This new venue occupying the old Music Hall will provide an exciting new attraction housing a museum, special exhibitions gallery, a cafe bar, shop and a new visitor information centre. Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery offers a sumptuous setting for special occasions in the historic heart of Shrewsbury. Guests will arrive by passing through the town’s picturesque Square into the building’s fine Grecian-style facade. Once inside they will find a range of beautiful spaces from the balcony overlooking the grandeur of the main auditorium to more intimate meeting rooms and galleries. These unique spaces create an impressive backdrop which will make any event memorable. http://www.shrewsburymuseum.org.uk/venue-hire/#sthash.d3R0qLS1.dpuf http://www.shrewsburymuseum.org.uk/ The Old Haberdashery, Isle of Wight Spring Set to open in the Spring of 2014, this Landmark Trust property is being described as “a luxury house hotel with a difference”. The property's classical structure is being used as the basis of the design; and the spirit of its past and extraordinarily beautiful are being complemented with a fresh, contemporary twist. The furniture will be an eclectic mix of antique and bespoke pieces alongside hand-picked artwork and objects d'art. http://oldhaberdashery.co.uk/ Staybridge Suites (opening early 2014) Staybridge Suites Birmingham is located in the very heart of the city within the Martineau Place shopping centre and just five minutes’ walk from Bullring Shopping Centre and the stunning architecture of the city’s New Street. Choose a relaxing home from home, offering a little oasis in vibrant Birmingham. http://www.ihg.com/staybridge/hotels/gb/en/birmingham/bhxsb/hoteldetail The Radisson Blu, Manchester Airport Work has begun to radically transform the Radisson Blu Hotel, Manchester Airport as part of a £10m investment programme – by far the largest current hotel investment programme in the North of England. The iconic hotel, which originally opened in 1998, will be fully refurbished over three phases, with the first phase and the largest, already well underway. The large-scale project will touch all core elements of the property over the next two years. This year (2013), as part of the phase one works; the hotel’s reception and lobby area, restaurant and bar, 120 Business Class bedrooms and suites, and the airport’s largest functions and events area – including all 27 meeting rooms - will be completed. Additionally, the existing Observatory Suite will be transformed into a Business Class lounge, complete with private reception and dedicated check-in facility for Business Class guests. Phase two of the programme covers an additional 120 guest bedrooms and will be completed in early 2014, with the remaining 120 bedrooms being covered in phase three in 2015 - when the project will be completed. Bristol University

The University is continuing to invest in teaching facilities which will enhance the student experience. A £56-million project to construct a new Life Sciences building is due for completion in early 2014 http://www.bris.ac.uk/estates/projects/life-sciences APRIL Hilton – Southampton Hilton at the Ageas Bowl will be a landmark hotel for the brand when it opens in April 2014. It will feature 171 rooms and four suites, many of which will overlook the pitch. Uniquely, 85 of the rooms will double up as corporate hospitality boxes on match days, offering guests an unrivalled entertainment experience. This upscale six-storey hotel will also offer a spa, several restaurants and conference and banqueting facilities for up to 500 people, as well as a Sky News Centre and golf course. Hilton at the Ageas Bowl is ideally located for both business and leisure guests. It is situated just off Junction 7 of the M27 Motorway (which links Southampton to London) and within easy reach of Southampton Parkway train station. www.sanguine.com/hilton-at-the-ageas-bowl-southampton The Home of the Titanic, Liverpool The historic Albion House, built in 1897 as the headquarters of White Star Line, owner of RMS Titanic, is being converted into a 350-bed apartment hotel. The 11-floor pioneering property, bought by the Kenwrights for £1.6m, will become the upmarket Signature Living Hotel – The Home of the Titanic. The first three floors will open in April 2014. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: South Plaza Opening April 2014 Including the Aquatics Centre, ArcelorMittal Orbit and South Park Hub. The Park’s epicentre roars into life with the two iconic venues throwing open their doors for the first time since the 2012 Games. The park is predicted to have 9.3 million visitors a year by 2016, hosting hundreds of events each year including sport and entertainment. Opening of ArcelorMittal Orbit Turner Prize-winning Anish Kapoor’s landmark ArcelorMittal Orbit is set to open in April 2014. Already the largest piece of public art in Britain, when re-opened, The Orbital’s observation tower will offer visitors two viewing platforms. The London Aquatics Centre and London VeloPark are two indoor facilities which, as well as being main venues for the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Paralympics, will also both be open to the public from April 2014. Ryanair Opens 12 New Stansted Routes from April 2014 Ryanair, Europe’s favourite low fares airline, have announced it will open 12 new routes from London Stansted (in April 2014) as well as adding frequencies on 17 existing routes, which will deliver an additional 1,300,000 passengers p.a. and support 1,300* new on-site jobs at London Stansted Airport. Ryanair’s growth at Stansted from April 2014 will deliver:

12 new routes to Basel, Bordeaux, Brive, Bucharest, Comiso, Dortmund, Lisbon, Osijek, Podgorica, Prague, Rabat & Skelleftea

126 Stansted routes in total

More flights & improved schedules on 17 existing routes (from 430 to 600 weekly flights)

Over 1,300,000 new Ryanair passengers p.a. at Stansted (14.5m in total)

Over 1,300* jobs sustained at Stansted Airport

MAY The Belfry Resort The Belfry - host to more Ryder Cup matches than any other venue in the world – will complete £26m resort enhancements in May; the extensive works will see a complete transformation to its 319 bedrooms and 21

conference and meeting rooms. From an old manor house dating back to the 12th century, to today's iconic resort; The Belfry is steeped in history and heritage. Our three stunning championship courses, sculpted from 550 acres of lush North Warwickshire countryside, have provoked some of the most dramatic moments in the history of the sport. The Resort has superb conference and leisure facilities,ideally situated in the Heart of England, just 8 miles from Birmingham Airport and 10 miles from Birmingham city centre. With 319 bedrooms (including 14 suites), 21 conference and meeting rooms with capacity of up to 310, three golf courses, spa and leisure club, a variety of bars and restaurants, spectacular outdoor spaces and complimentary car parking, our facilities are perfect for conferences, special events and incentive trips. Timings: 2013: Sam’s clubhouse, 150 bedrooms, new ryder grill restaurant, new entrance, reception and bar. All conference suites finished with the exception of Woodlands (below Feb date) February 2014 – The final conference suite will be finished, 220 bedrooms March 2014 – Brand new golf entrance, shop and dining suites May 2014 – Leisure facilities and remaining bedrooms

Shangri-La The Shard, London 10 May 2014, Shangri-La will reach an even higher level of attainment, when it launches a new luxury hotel inside the spire of The Shard. At 1,016 feet high, The Shard is regarded as one of the most ambitious architectural endeavours in the UK. Its height will make it one of the tallest buildings in Europe, while its soaring spire shape will make it one of the most distinctive. www.shangri-la.com/en/property/london/shangrila WARWICK CASTLE LAUNCHES PREMIUM MEDIAEVAL GLAMPING FOR SUMMER 2014 This summer, experience a starlit sleepover like no other in a riverside woodland grove in the grounds of historic Warwick Castle from £200 per night for a family of up to six. With 38 private and well-appointed Round Tents and – new for 2014 – three Premium Tents complete with four poster beds, thrones and even a Knights Suit of Amour. Mediaeval Glamping at Warwick Castle is back between 24 May and 31 August 2014: book now at www.warwick-castle.com or by calling 0871 663 1676. The three new Premium Tents each offer a four-poster double bed, two single beds, two thrones, a large oak storage chest, a large table with chess board and a full suit of knight’s armour, in addition to in-tent power and Wi-Fi. JUNE Titanic-themed hotel to open in Liverpool The former headquarters of the White Star Line shipping company that built the Titanic is to open as a themed luxury hotel near the ACC Liverpool. Titanic-themed hotel to open in Liverpool The 65-room hotel is expected to open in April this year following a £7m refurbishment. The spa is due to open later in the year. Each room will feature a reference to the White Star Line or the era that the Titanic was built in. Two of the rooms will be named after fictional characters Jack Dawson and Rose Dewitt-Bukater, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in James Cameron's 1997 film about the Titanic disaster. The dining rooms will be modelled on the Titanic's interior design, while the hotel's bar will offer views of the Liverpool waterfront from two 100-ft balconies on the roof of the building. QR codes around the property will allow guests to easily access information about the history of the Titanic via their smartphones. The Grade II-listed property will be located on Liverpool’s James Street, a 15-minute walk from the ACC Liverpool. Terminal 2, London Heathrow Heathrow will open its new Terminal 2 in June 2014. The £2.5 billion facility will eventually serve 20 million

passengers each year and will is to be known as "Terminal 2: the Queen's Terminal" in recognition of Queen Elizabeth II and marking her long association with the airport. Kings Head Hotel, Cirencester West Berkshire hotel operator, The Vineyard Group, is excited to announce plans to re-open the historic Kings Head Hotel in the heart of Cirencester town centre during summer 2014 (late June). Closed for redevelopment in 2007, the King’s Head will re-open as a modern, elegant hotel offering 45 stylish bedrooms, an exceptional wine list and an all-day dining option offering the very best of modern British food. The entire hotel has been undergoing an extensive restoration programme to address decades of neglect to the historic fabric, including extensive archaeological excavation in the cellars. Final fit-out works will shortly commence including the 45 bedrooms, which will all be individual designed keeping the character of the grade II listed building. There are also plans for a subterranean spa with a number of treatment rooms for the enjoyment of both residential and local guests. International Paediatric Anaesthetists Annual Science Meeting The International Paediatric Anaesthetists Annual Science meeting will take place in May 2014 at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. The two day conference will host around 500 delegates. International Festival of Business IFB2014 will feature hundreds of world-class events from June to July 2014 in Liverpool, attracting 250,000 visitors from across the globe, and bringing £100 million worth of investment into the UK economy. http://www.ifb2014.com Wimbledon Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, and widely considered the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon since 1877 and will return again next year between 23 June and 6 July to host the world’s tennis greats. Royal Ascot The world’s most famous race meeting takes place in June next year. Royal Ascot is the place to see and be seen for high society, royal watchers, fun seekers and horse racing enthusiasts alike. Steeped in tradition, heritage and pageantry, Royal Ascot dates back 300 years and is attended by the Royal Family, including Her Majesty the Queen NHS Confederation ACC Liverpool has confirmed the return of NHS Confederation – one of the most high profile healthcare conferences in the UK – for the fourth time. Around 2,500 delegates are expected to attend the conference in June 2014, estimated to be worth £4.7m to the local economy.

DATE TBC - likely to be Q2 Stanbrook Abbey, Worcestershire Nestled in 22 acres of lush countryside, near Malvern in Worcestershire, this former Convent has been transformed into one of the UK's most stunning conference venues, with eight flexible function rooms, combined with beautiful grounds for teambuilding and a luxurious Manor House for Management accommodation or a Directors retreat. Stanbrook Abbey sets the stage for a memorable event. In summer 2014 there will be a further compliment of 50 bedrooms and additional event space. www.stanbrookabbey.com The University of Liverpool, Guild of Students The University of Liverpool will soon be able to host up to 550 guests for a gala dinner in its newly refurbished £10.8million project – the Guild of Students building. The existing Guild has undergone a thorough transformation, and the new space will be ready for summer 2014. It can still act as a perfect plenary venue with contemporary exhibition space for 800 people.

Manchester Central Library – reopens spring 2014 The beautifully refurbished and extended Central Library will open again in spring 2014. The building's historic features are being sensitively and carefully restored and we are also bringing the building up to the twenty first century standards fit for a world class city. This major transformational programme of works will ensure the long term survival of one of Manchester's most iconic and much loved buildings. The library will be a wonderful place for learning and creativity. Enjoy exhibitions and events and a new performance space. There will be exciting opportunities to experiment and create in the Media Lounge and Henry Watson Music Library. Central will also be home to a BFI Mediatheque providing free access to films from the National Film Archive. www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500138/central_library/5808/a_new_central_library Park Regis Birmingham (opening summer 2014) The 300 room, 4-star property Park Regis Birmingham (due to open in 2014) is situated in the city’s leisure and convention quarter. Overlooking Five Ways Roundabout, the hotel will be one of the most prominent in the city providing guests easy access to The ICC, Brindleyplace and The Mailbox. Key features of the new property include a rooftop restaurant & cocktail bar, library and gym/spa. http://www.staywellgroup.com/hotels/united-kingdom/park-regis-birmingham Hauser & Wirth Hauser & Wirth Somerset opens at Durslade Farm, on the edge of the ancient town of Bruton, in summer 2014. Visitors will enjoy new and innovative pieces of contemporary art and architecture, designed to mirror the remarkable Somerset landscape, and the on-site restaurant will cater for small events. http://www.hauserwirthsomerset.com/ The Beaumont Hotel, London

Summer 2014 Restaurateurs Jeremy King and Chris Corbin are to open a boutique hotel at 8 Balderton Street in the former Avis building, a 1920's Art Deco structure originally used as a garage. The 75-room hotel in Mayfair will feature a sculpture of a crouching man by artist Anthony Gormley which is predicted to become a landmark for the area. King and Corbin have made their name with top restaurants such as The Wolseley, The Ivy and Le Caprice. The Beaumont will also comprise a royal suite, restaurant, a small private dining room, lobby bar, spa and leisure facilities. JULY Imperial War Museum The Imperial War Museum London (IWM) is to close on 6 January 2014 for a major redevelopment of the building and its event spaces, which aims to transform the Grade II listed building to mark the centenary of the First World War. The museum will re-open in July with two new evening event spaces – a reconfigured atrium and a new suspended gallery in the rooftop. The central atrium space will be able to hold 350 people for a reception and 280 for a dinner. The redevelopment of the building also involves the installation of new displays and large iconic objects. http://www.iwm.org.uk/ 175th anniversary of the Henley Royal Regatta, 2014 2014 marks the 175th anniversary of the Henley Royal Regatta, undoubtedly the best known regatta in the world and is both one of the highlights of the summer sporting calendar and the social season. It attracts thousands of visitors over a 5 day period and spectators will be thrilled by over 200 races of an international standard, including Olympians and crews new to the event. Aside from the rowing, visitors can take in the ambience enjoying the facilities within the Enclosures. www.hrr.co.uk Yorkshire’s Grand Depart 2014 In July 2014 the Tour de France returns to the UK for three glorious stages. The Yorkshire Grand Depart comprises two stages – Leeds to Harrogate and York to Sheffield – before the Tour moves south for a 3rd stage

from Cambridge to London. The Open Championship 2014 Royal Liverpool Golf Club will host The Open Championship (often referred to as The British Open) between the 17 and 20 July. The event is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf and is the only major held outside the United States. Liverpool is also hosting a major international business event at the same time as the Open; the International Festival for Business is expected to attract 250,000 visitors from across the globe. International Symposium on Metal Hydrogen Systems July 2014 This major international conference is returning to the UK for the first time since 1985 and will be held at The Lowry in Salford. It will provide a forum for international scientists to present and discuss new results and ideas concerning the fundamentals and applications of hydrogen interactions with metals and other materials. This symposium will help further the progress of hydrogen-based science and thus aid in future worldwide technological advances concerning energy and the environment. It will also be an opportunity to showcase the latest hydrogen powered vehicles released onto the market. Arts Marketing Association conference in Bristol in July 2014 A major arts conference will come to the creative powerhouse of Bristol in July 2014. Well-known for being a creative and artistic hub, Bristol has been announced as the host city for the Arts Marketing Association’s (AMA) annual conference. Six hundred people including creative marketers, inspiring thinkers and a range of arts and cultural professionals will attend the three-day event at the Watershed on the harbourside and Colston Hall, to explore ways of bringing art and audiences together. Inaugural Aerotropolis EMEA, Manchester The inaugural Aerotropolis Europe, Middle East and Africa Conference and Exhibition (AEMEA) will take place in Manchester 8-10 July 2014. Manchester will be hosting Aerotropolis EMEA 2014 in partnership with Airport City Manchester, as part of the International Festival for Business 2014. AUGUST Aloft Hotel, Liverpool 31 August Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and its destination brand, Aloft Hotels, will open the brand new Aloft Liverpool in 2014, which will be both affordable and cutting edge. Aloft was created ‘to shake up the staid and traditional mid-market hotel sector’ and was the vision of W Hotels. The new hotel will be set in a Grade II listed building and guestrooms will feature the brand’s signature high ceilings, oversized windows and an ultra-comfortable platform bed as well as large walk-in showers. The hotel will also have a re:mixSM lounge and w xyzSM bar where guests can mix and mingle, read the paper, work on laptops, play a game of pool or grab a drink with friends.

www.alofthotels.com European Society for Biomaterials The European Society for Biomaterials will take place in Liverpool between August and September. Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Be part of the mass ascent of over 120 balloons at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta from 7 to 10 August 2014. Bailey Balloons and Bristol Balloons offer the opportunity for individuals or groups of up to 16 people to be part of this incredible experience. Discover more about the fiesta at www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk/ or for more about ballooning in Bristol visit www.visitbristol.co.uk/things-to-do International cricket returns to Bristol

On Monday 25 August 2014, International Cricket returns to Bristol as England take on India at the County Ground. A sell-out crowd of 17,000 is expected for this One Day International and there will be world-class hospitality available. Find out more at www.gloscricket.co.uk/hospitality/international-2014-hospitality SEPTEMBER Living Architecture: A House for Essex (autumn) Living Architecture is delighted to announce that it will be working with FAT and artist Grayson Perry to build a unique new house in the North Essex countryside. The house, near Wrabness on the North Essex coast, is both an artwork in itself and the setting for a number of works by Grayson Perry exploring the special character and unique qualities of Essex. The building has been designed to evoke a tradition of wayside and pilgrimage chapels. It belongs to a history of follies, whilst also being deeply of its own time.

www.living-architecture.co.uk ‘Hub by Premier Inn’ The Hub is tipped to be the most space efficient hotel and will be the UK's first hotel where the rooms can be remote controlled using a smart phone app. Guests will be able to check in online and control the room’s lighting, temperature as well as what is on the radio/TV when they arrive. Each hotel will have its own deli-style restaurant serving local produce and guests will be able to pre-order breakfast using the 'hub' app. www.hubhotels.co.uk The European Society of Surgical Oncology conference The ESSO conference will be held in September 2014 at the ACC. This will be the first time in its 30 year history that ESSO has held its annual congress in the UK - estimated to have an economic impact of £2m - and also the first time it has invited delegates from worldwide sister associations from the US, Brazil, India and China. Soccerex, Manchester The Soccerex Global Convention 2014, hosted by Marketing Manchester, will take place on 6-10 September at Manchester Central Convention Centre. As one of the first business events of the 2014/15 football season, the Convention will be a crucial opportunity for national FA’s, federations and cities to promote their 2020 Euro Champio Obesity – A Physiological Perspective The conference is the annual Topic Meeting for The Physiological Society and is being held in Newcastle in 2014. It is expected to attract around 400 delegates to the destination. Newcastle United’s St James’ Park will host the 3 day conference, 10-12 September 2014, which looks to engage academics, medical professionals and the local community in the debate around obesity and the factors contributing to the UK epidemic. Date TBC - likely to be Q3 STANBROOK ABBEY RENOVATION The best venue in Worcestershire has begun its transformation - 2014 signals the start of the evolvement of this iconic events venue. Stanbrook Abbey was purchased in 1835 by a community of Benedictine nuns who called the Abbey their home for over 170 years. The venue underwent extensive refurbishment prior to opening the first phase in September 2012. The next phase of development incorporates the installation of a Garden Pavilion which will accommodate up to 200 guests for banquet dining; renovation of 49 luxury bedroom suites (from the nun’s former cells); the extension of the

Thompson Dining Hall to increase capacity from 100 to 180; a new driveway and reception area; an impressive new bar area; the renovation of three further luxury function spaces – the Calefactory, The Pugin Suite and the Cellars. Work is due for completion in autumn 2014 but Stanbrook Abbey will continue to be open for business throughout this exciting period. Stanbrook Abbey offers day delegate rates from £57.00 per person.

The Blackburn Wing, Leeds A treehouse-inspired wooden hangar is to open for meetings and events at Bowcliffe Estate in Leeds in 2014. The 'Blackburn Wing' will offer seating for up to 80 people theatre-style in its largest space and 140 people for drinks receptions. The construction will appear to be floating in the treeline and follows the recent refurbishment of the estate's Bowcliffe Hall, which is a Georgian house with two meeting rooms offering period features and views across landscaped gardens. The estate can also accommodate 1,000 guests in a marquee. On site catering will be provided by the art-deco themed Drivers Club. www.citmagazine.com/article/1191824/pictures-treehouse-hangar-planned-leeds Conservative Party Conference Birmingham’s ICC will host the Conservative Party’s autumn conference in 2014. The event, which could attract up to 14,000 delegates, will be the fourth time Birmingham has hosted the party since 2008. OCTOBER Whitworth Art Gallery – October 2014 120 year old Whitworth Art Gallery, at The University of Manchester, is currently being transformed into a new experience for visitors. The development will connect the existing 19th century building with the Whitworth Park around it. The new Whitworth will feature an elegant contemporary extension of two new wings, together with extensive refurbishment of the current space which will reveal hidden areas of the historic building. The project will enable the Whitworth to meet the needs of current and future audiences, double the exhibition space and public areas, protect and display more of its collections and make them accessible to the widest possible audience. The two stunning wings extend the gallery further into the park and create a new art garden and park side entrance. A glass and steel wing sits close to the trees on the park side, housing a first floor 'café in the trees' and a ground floor learning studio that will open on to the art garden. A brick wing on the street side houses a new landscape gallery with views over the park and a ground floor study centre. The wings are linked by a promenade that wraps the back of the original building, giving views over the park and, at the ground floor level, access to the collections, which are housed in a new environmentally sustainable collections centre. Within the original building, a suite of three major exhibition spaces are created by restoring the three back galleries to their 1908 barrel-ceiling form. Public areas are vastly increased by restoring the grand hall on the first floor and giving full public access for the first time to the glorious Edwardian staircases that lead up to the grand hall. A new shop, in the entrance hall, will allow the Gallery to offer a wide range of objects to buy, drawn from the collections and makers in the region. The building will open in summer 2014. www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/galleryinthepark Hotel Football, Manchester – A New Playing Field Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville will open Hotel Football in October 2014. Hotel Football will be an innovative hotel concept that combines a unique football theme with a truly individual identity and culture. Located on the doorstep of Old Trafford football stadium and the home of Manchester United, Hotel Football provides a relaxed, friendly and welcoming environment where people can come together to share a memorable and vibrant experience with football at its heart. Hotel Football is designed to be a fresh, contemporary venue using subtle references to football throughout. Whether an avid football fan, or an occasional follower of the game, guests will be inspired by the unique interior design and use of space. The functioning rooftop football pitch, the conferencing and banqueting facilities and the distinctive bedrooms will provide residents with a memorable and vibrant experience. www.hotelfootball.com

Date TBC - likely to be Q4 Albert Hall, Manchester A new Manchester conference venue is set to open in August 2014. Albert Hall, a chapel in the heart of Manchester which dates back to 1910, is set to be transformed into a live music and conference venue. The gothic-style building is set over two floors, and was a former bar and nightclub.

Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Hampshire A state of the art gin distillery is set to open at Laverstoke Mill in Spring 2014. Bombay Sapphire has worked closely with designer Thomas Heatherwick and Heatherwick Studio on the design of the glasshouse (which will house Bombay Sapphire's 10 botanical ingredients) and bar school set within the distillery site. The site was recently awarded an 'Outstanding' design stage BREEAM (Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method) for its distillery process buildings and hopes to be the most environmentally friendly distillery in the world. www.laverstokemill.co.uk National Indoor Arena, Birmingham (winter 2014) Birmingham's National Indoor Arenais undergoeing a £20m makeover. The work is set for completion in winter 2014 and is set to see improvements to the exterior and concourse in the first modernisation since it opened 20 years ago. The Lakes Distillery, Cumbria Late 2014/early 2015 Cumbria’s first whiskey distillery will be opening in the summer of 2014. Housed in a former Victorian farm in the Lake District, The Lakes Distillery will make the most of Cumbria’s perfect whisky producing conditions and will start distilling its own Cumbrian malt whisky and gin in Spring 2014. It has created an entirely new concept in blended whiskies for its inaugural product, The One, which was launched in 2013’s Taste Cumbria Food Festival. The Lakes Distillery will have a café, restaurant, shop and a visitor centre offering supervised distillery tours. http://www.lakesdistillery.com/ DATE TBC – OTHERS Swap the boardroom for the battlefield with new corporate team building at Warwick Castle Our experienced Knights will take you back to a time when war raged outside the Castle walls and the troops are preparing for battle. You will learn the precise art of archery, battle one to one with real swords and be introduced to poll arm fighting using six foot staffs! Your teams can also build a mini trebuchet using the mediaeval equivalent of a “flat pack” kit and plans, once you qualify as a squire or a knight, the ‘Storm the Castle’ shoot-out between the teams will commence. Our unique Knight School package is sure to ignite the warrior within as you battle with colleagues to determine the true champion. Why not make a “knight” of it with a Kingmaker’s Mediaeval Banquet…It is the year 1471 and you have been summoned to dine with the infamous Earl of Warwick for an unforgettable evening, you will start by exploring the Kingmaker attraction, then the rest of the evening you will be surrounded by mediaeval revelry along with a three course banquet and free flowing lager, wine and soft drinks throughout. http://www.warwick-castle.com/corporate/corporate-events-overview.aspx The University of Hull The University of Hull is currently under taking some serious developments and refurbishment. On the main campus the first phase is already completed with a multi-million pound investment to dramatically improve and modernise the Brynmor Jones Library. When fully finished the building will combine stunning architecture with state-of-the-art technology and will incorporate a new gallery and exhibition space. The University's conference facilities and halls of residence at The Lawns campus will also benefit from major refurbishment during 2014. Manchester Metropolitan University Birley Fields in Hulme represents the final stage of a £350m investment in new campus facilities for Manchester

Metropolitan University. It is the largest construction project in our ten year plan to consolidate from seven campus locations to two (Manchester and Cheshire) by 2014. As a university we are committed to being a good and responsible neighbour; employment, community, study and training opportunities will be created for local residents and community groups as part our commitment to the regeneration of Hulme. www.mmu.ac.uk/birleyfields Sky Garden (20 Fenchurch Street), London London’s newest skyscraper, dubbed the walkie talkie, offers some of the best views of London. By 2014 there will be four designated events spaces allowing organisers to hire the entire Sky Garden for private events. The space will be able to host a total capacity of 540 people and room sizes will vary between 20 in the boardroom and approximately 250 guests on level 35. Level 35 of the Sky Garden will have a champagne and food bar, offering an all day food service, while level 36 will house the Darwin Brasserie offering international cuisine. The Fenchurch Seafood Bar & Grill will be located on the top floor of the venue. Living Architecture: The Secular Retreat, Devon In South Devon, between the resorts of Salcombe and Hallsands lies a landscape of rolling hills, wooded river valleys, patchwork fields and small stone villages. It is here that Living Architecture has asked one of the greatest architects in the world, Peter Zumthor, to create The Secular Retreat. On top of a hill, with endless views onto the rolling south Devon landscape, Zumthor has designed a veritable haven from the pressures of modern life, a space dedicated to calm, reflection and perspective - and in which one will be liable to feel some of the same sense of serenity and well-being as in an ancient monastery or abbey. The design makes use of an original rammed concrete that gives the building a mass and scale characteristic of a timeless example of ecclesiastical architecture. Nestled in one of the most beautiful parts of the English countryside, Peter Zumthor has designed a work of art to touch the soul. www.living-architecture.co.uk Hotel Indigo – Birmingham Waterloo Street Hotel Indigo, the boutique hotel chain, is set to open a second property in Birmingham. The 61-bedroom Hotel Indigo Birmingham-Waterloo Street will be located within the Colmore Row conversion area of the city centre. Historic wind tunnels for events hire from 2014 Planners will be able to host their events in the UK's largest wind tunnel after a flight-testing warehouse next to TAG Farnborough Airport has been refurbished. The Grade I-listed wind tunnels are part of Artliner's Wind Tunnel Project and will open for events business in 2014. The tunnels are called Q121 and R52 and can host up to 350 guests. Q121 is the largest wind tunnel in the UK and was opened in 1935. It has been refitted with vintage military furniture, set alongside the existing 30-feet mahogany blade used to drive the wind. The smaller R52 dates back to 1917 and was used to test the Spitfire. The Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations 17th annual symposium The NDLTD will hold its annual conference at The University of Leicester. It is only the second time the event, which attracts more than 200 delegates, has been held in the UK.

2015 AND BEYOND The Gainsborough Bath Spa – opening July Originally built in the 1800s, The Gainsborough Bath Spa occupies three listed and historic buildings, The Gainsborough, Bellotts and Hetling House, with distinguished Grade II Georgian façades and the one remaining Elizabethan building in the heart of Bath. Contemporarily redesigned to offer superlative service in an elegant environment rooted firmly in its classical heritage, its intimate public spaces, restaurant and bar are centred around Spa Village Bath, the only natural thermal spa within a luxury hotel. It offers a variety of events spaces – ideally suited to weddings, wellnedd events and business meetings.

Heckfield Place, Hampshire Built in the Georgian period and expanded in Victorian times, the new Heckfield Place manor house hotel has

just been reunited with its 330 acre home farm. The hotel boasts 60 individually designed bedrooms, a historic walled garden of flowers, herbs and fruit trees, 65-seat subterranean screening room, cottages offering a variety of health and beauty experiences, a delicious restaurant and a working farm with livestock and vegetables. Heckfield Place is the ultimate hotel with a soul! www.heckfieldplace.com Innside by Melia, Manchester Lifestyle business hotel brand Innside by Melia may have been going a few years already but it will be new to the UK when it opens its first hotel here in Manchester, as part of the First Street North development. Originally scheduled for this autumn, the opening has now been postponed until April 2015, so would-be guests will have to wait that little bit longer to see if it delivers on its promise of sleek, design-led rooms, state-of-the-art technology, and stylish destination bars and restaurants. www.innside.com Home, Manchester In Spring 2015, a new purpose-built centre for international contemporary art, theatre, film and books will open its doors for the first time in Manchester, as part of the First Street North development. It will be called HOME. From gallery to screen via café bar and bookshop, HOME will redefine the contemporary arts centre, creating a space where ideas, hopes and moments of wonder ricochet off walls and lodge themselves in the headspace of audiences old and new. Exhibition Centre Liverpool A world class Exhibition Centre and integrated hotel at Kings Dock in Liverpool is to open in spring 2015. Exhibition Centre Liverpool is set to be a 8,100 sqm, three-hall exhibition centre and a 200-room ‘headquarters’ hotel, which will form part of ACC Liverpool, home to BT Convention Centre and Echo Arena. Exhibition Centre Liverpool will be capable of hosting large scale conferences, trade and consumer exhibitions, concerts and sports events on a national and international scale. Plans for the facility include an atrium, meeting rooms and a business centre. The three halls will each be 2,700 sqm and will be separated by movable walls. The new facilities will open in spring 2015. Pullman will be the brand for the integrated, upscale, four-star hotel, which will include up to 10,500 square metres of floor space and seven storeys of rooms, above a ground floor reception, lobby, restaurant, bar, meeting rooms and gym. Snow dome, Stratford A new £200m snow dome, comparable in size to Ski Dubai, is set to open in London close to the Olympic Park. The indoor ski centre will be funded by shopping centre developers Westfield and will be the first of its kind in London and the largest in the UK. Set to open in 2015, the development will include 20,000m2 of piste, including a 300m run, covered in 'real' snow. Aiming to attract three million visitors a year, it will sit alongside Ski Dubai as the world's largest. Sandy Park, Exeter Plans have been submitted to redevelop the home of the Exeter Chiefs to almost double current capacity. The Premiership rugby club has released their vision for Sandy Park to increase seating 10,750 to 20,600. There will also be substantial expansion of the conference and banqueting facilities by 50 – 70 per cent at Sandy Park to enable the club to generate the income needed to compete at the very top echelons of European rugby. In addition to the ground work, parking outside the stadium will be increased as well developing a bus and coach drop off point and a new television compound. This is due to be completed in time for the RWC2015. Resorts World Birmingham at the NEC Set to open in 2015, Resorts World will be one of the UK’s largest integrated venues with restaurants and bars, conferencing facilities, designer outlets, cinema, casino, multi-use banqueting and conference centre and a 176 bedroom four star hotel with five star suites and spa. www.resortsworldbirmingham.co.uk Lee Valley - London

England will host both the men's and women's competitions of the 2015 EuroHockey Championships at the Olympic Lee Valley Centre. The Championships, which will take place in August 2015, will be the first major international tournament to be held in the Olympic Park after the London 2012 Olympic Games. Admiralty Arch to open as Armani hotel London's Admiralty Arch is to be transformed in to a £100 million Armani hotel. The 1912 building, designed by Aston Webb, was intended as a ceremonial passage from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace but has had a variety of uses, including government offices, and recently has been left empty. The Grade I-listed building, which has three arches, was commissioned by Edward VII in memory of his mother, Queen Victoria. The building's original features will be preserved, with the hotel expected to open in 2015. England 2015 Rugby World Cup In 2015 England officially takes on its responsibility as host for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, another part of what is fast becoming known as ‘The Golden Decade of Sport’. It will be the second time England has hosted the competition; the last time was 1991. www.rugbyworldcup.com/destinationengland Summer 2015: Opening of Intercontinental Greenwich The 452-room property, which will be known as the Intercontinental London The O2, will stand at 19 storeys high. The five-star hotel will feature Europe's largest pillar-free ballroom, a health spa, several restaurants and a panoramic Sky Bar with views of Canary Wharf and the River Thames. Birmingham New Street Gateway The expansion of transport networks will open up the city region to a greater audience and make it even easier for national and international industry professionals to use Birmingham for their events. Among the new developments, the revamped Birmingham New Street station will support over 52 million passengers a year, and become a world-class gateway for the city by 2015. Its new concourse will be three and a half times bigger than at present, while the station will also become the terminus of the Midland Metro extension. www.newstreetnewstart.co.uk/home.aspx Paradise Circus, Birmingham Around 17 acres of land between the city’s Centenary Square and Chamberlain Square will be developed to include offices, shops, leisure and cultural facilities together with civic amenities and a new four star hotel to replace the existing Copthorne Hotel. The redevelopment will provide a traffic-free setting for the Grade I Listed Town Hall and create a series of pedestrian streets linked to new squares. Views of the landmark clock tower on the Grade II Listed Council House will be reinstated while the façade of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery will be opened up to public gaze for the first time since the 1970s. http://www.paradisecircus.co.uk/ Wrea Head Hall, near Scarbrough Work to restore the beautiful Wrea Head Hall near Scarbrough is ongoing with 20-bedrooms and conferencing facilities being revamped and upgraded. The hotel is open for business with work being done in stages (full completion in 2015) and they are opening up to the corporate market while shooting parties are also starting to be regular guests. http://www.wreaheadhall.co.uk/ The Society for Ecological Restoration – Manchester The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) has confirmed Manchester as the destination for the 6 th World Congress on Ecological Restoration. The five day meeting in August 2015 will bring 1,500 delegates to the city in a deal estimated to be worth approximately £3.9m for the local economy. The congress was secured through a partnership approach between Visit Manchester, Manchester Central, MMU’s conference office, Meeting Makers, and was led by MMU’s Dr David Haley, as well as supporters including The Biospheric Project at the Manchester International Festival, Positive Impact and Creative Concern. SER plans to use Manchester Central for the main assembly and MMU for pre-conference meetings. Both venues have been praised for their sustainability initiatives which include Manchester Central being one of the

first UK venues to achieve ISO20121 international accreditation whilst MMU recently ranked as the UK’s greenest university. World Association for Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology Liverpool's BT Convention Centre has won a bid to host the WAAVP conference in 2015. The conference is expected to attract 800 delegates when it takes place between 16 and 19 August at the BT Convention Centre, part of ACC Liverpool. EMBO Meeting 2015 EMBO is an organization of more than 1500 leading researchers that promotes excellence in the life sciences. Its seventh EMBO Meeting 2015 will take place at the ICC in Birmingham in 2015. Hampton by Hilton In 2015, Hilton Worldwide is opening two hotels, one at Gatwick Airport and the other in Birmingham, as part of its Hampton by Hilton brand. Hilton, Leeds A £32m, five-star Hilton hotel has been announced for Leeds. The chain, which already has two properties in the city, is expecting to unveil the 14-storey building in 2015. Plans for the 206-room hotel re being overseen by GB Group Holdings, which says construction will begin over the next few months. It is intended that the property, to be located close to the new Leeds Arena, will stand as the city’s premier luxury accommodation. A panoramic sky bar on the uppermost storey is also expected to figure. International Surgery Week, Manchester In April 2015 Manchester will host two large medical associations who are co-locating to form what we are calling ‘International Surgical Week’. This follows the signing of an agreement between the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain & Ireland (ASGBI) and the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (E-AHPBA). What this means is that Manchester will act as a focal point for surgeons across the world during 2015. This unique format has never been held before and we are hopeful that circa 2,500-3,000 surgeons will gather at Manchester Central to discuss cutting-edge medical research. National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs More than 4,500 young farmers are set to make a welcome return to Torquay for their annual conventions in both 2015 and 2017. The Riviera International Conference Centre (RICC) is delighted to be hosting the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs’ (NFYFC) Annual Convention after securing a 2 year deal.

2016 Flax Mill Maltings, Shrewsbury The world’s first iron-framed building is set to undergo a multi-million pound transformation that will see it opened up for business use as part of on-going plans to enhance Telford and Shropshire’s convention centre status. Shrewsbury’s historic Flax Mill Maltings has received a confirmed grant of £12.8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) which will see the site’s Main Mill – the grandfather of all skyscrapers – and a number of other key historic buildings restored to their former glory. The mammoth investment will transform the site into comprehensive commercial and community space, featuring unique conference facilities, three floors of extensive office space, and an area dedicated to the Flax Mill’s heritage. The Mill itself was operational from 1797 as a Flax Mill and Maltings until its eventual closure in 1987, and the refurbished space will house an exhibition for visitors to learn about the building’s place in social and international history. Situated on the northern edge of Shropshire’s county town of Shrewsbury, the globally-important Flax Mill site reflects the region’s significant contribution to the world of engineering, making it the perfect location for innovative companies to host an unforgettable event. Work will start on the site in the spring 2014, with the first phase of the project set to be complete by spring 2016. Manchester has been named the European city of science 2016 The EuroScience Open Forum will be hosted in Manchester from 22-27 July 2016. It was organised for the first

time in Stockholm in 2004 and has since been held every two years, coming to Munich, Barcelona, Turin and Dublin. RCOG World Congress, ICC Birmingham Birmingham and the International Convention Centre (ICC) have won the international bid to host the annual Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) World Congress in 2016. The three-day international conference is expected to bring more than 2,000 delegates, speakers and exhibitors to the region from nearly 70 countries, boosting the local visitor economy by £2.8 million. Eurostar new direct service to Amsterdam Eurostar has signed an agreement with the Dutch railways to launch the direct services between London and Amsterdam from December 2016. There will be two services a day between London and Amsterdam with journey times of around four hours. These services will run via Brussels to Amsterdam stopping at Antwerp, Rotterdam, Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Central. www.eurostar.com 17th Quadrennial International Conference on Clouds & Precipitation 2016 The QICCP will be held at the University of Manchester in the summer of 2016. Labour Party Annual Conference The Labour Party Annual Conference will be held at the ACC Liverpool in 2016. International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language Conference 2016 IATEFL will hold its annual conference at the ICC in Birmingham in 2016. 2017 2017 IAAF World Championships The 16th World Championships in Athletics are scheduled to be held in 2017 in London. The IAAF and the athletics family have been unwavering in their support of an Olympic legacy and played a crucial role in securing it. 1.9million fans applied for athletics tickets to the London 2012 Games - the appetite for world-class athletics is huge in the UK. London 2017 will deliver an iconic venue, full of passionate and knowledgeable fans that will support every athlete competing. Every nation within the IAAF family is represented in London’s cosmopolitan population, so London will be a home from home in every sense. www.london2017athletics.com 2018 Paramount Park, Kent Hollywood film giant Paramount is to create 27,000 jobs with one of the world's biggest theme parks in north Kent. The massive £2billion project is set to transform the Swanscombe peninsula, between Gravesend and Dartford, into an international tourist destination. The entertainment complex will feature Europe's largest indoor water park, theatres, live music venues, attractions, cinemas, restaurants, event space and hotels. It could take Paramount 18 months to get planning permission for the large-scale project, with the theme park due to open in 2018. www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/home/2012/october/8/paramount_park.aspx Labour Party Annual Conference The Labour Party Annual Conference will be held at the ACC Liverpool in 2018.