Spring conferences have hotels smiling

After a long and hard winter which has seen the UK officially enter into recession, an influx of conference delegates is ensuring that Spring in Cardiff brings with it a much needed boost to the coffers of the city’s hotels and restaurants.

Over the course of the next three weeks, seven major conferences and over 4,000 delegates will descend upon the capital city – filling the city’s hotels, bars and restaurants and bringing in around £1.8m of income. 

In addition, from 17-19 April the city hosts the RHS Show Cardiff where the “Duffydil” will be unveiled for the first time. 

The Cardiff-bound conferences include the Royal College of Nursing, Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Liberal Democrats, National Union of Teachers, British Sociological Association, UK Radiation Oncology Conference and IATEFL - The International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language.  The latter held at Cardiff’s magnificent City Hall is expected to attract over 1600 delegates.
      
Richard Thomas, the Managing Director of Cardiff & Co - the company charged with promoting Wales’ capital to the world -  recognises the importance of conferences to the city’s tourism industry but also sees them as an excellent way of showcasing the city to potential investors.

Commenting he said,

“Cardiff’s growing reputation as a conferences and events destination means that this time of year will be busier than ever.  Last weekend saw the Welsh Conservatives in town while over the next 3 weeks 4,000 delegates attending 6 different conferences will bring in an estimated £1.8m of income.  

He added, “Not only with all of these delegates spend a lot of money in the city but they will also go back to their workplaces and tell others about Cardiff.  And all the evidence we pick up suggests that the vast majority of people who come to Cardiff think it a fantastic city. 

“So the challenge for the city is to make sure that the delegates have the warmest of Welsh welcomes so that they bring their conferences back again this time next year and that they tell their business contacts about what a wonderful place Cardiff would be to invest and do business.

He concluded, “However, busy though the next few weeks will be, the outlook for May is more challenging.  That’s why we are working with the city’s hoteliers on a targeted mini-campaign aimed at driving up interest in the city in May.  But for now, let’s celebrate the city’s success and make sure that conference delegates have the best welcome possible.” 

Glenda Smart, an Executive Officer with IATEFL based at the University of Kent explained why IATEFL are looking forward to coming back to Cardiff for this year’s spring conference.  She said, “Each year we rotate the Conference to different venues so that it is different parts of the UK. We always look forward to returning to Cardiff as the City Hall and Museum make a truly magnificent venue, there are wonderful sites nearby, and our delegates thoroughly enjoy the shopping in Cardiff.  Our 1600 plus delegates particularly enjoyed Cardiff when we first visited in 2005 and we are very happy to be back again this year.  This year it is particularly fitting as the outgoing President is Welsh, with family roots in North Wales.”

Derek Harvey Chairman of the Cardiff Hoteliers Association is looking forward to welcoming the various delegates to the city.  Commenting he said, “In the current economic climate, the spring conferences provide a real fillip to our business.  It’s the time of year where spring really does offer some light at the end of the tunnel.  Clearly, having 4000 delegates staying in the city over a three week period makes a huge difference to our business.  It is vital as a city that Cardiff attracts more and more conferences every year.  The icing on the cake from the point of view of the hoteliers would be an international conference centre.  I think that there is a general consensus to deliver such a facility and it’s probably a case of when rather than whether it will happen.”

08/05/2009