YORK is to highlight its extensive range of conference venues to a national audience at York Race-course on Thursday, March 29, for the fourth year running.

Forty of the city's venues, including hotels, academic venues and conference support suppliers will "strut their stuff" for conference buyers from across the UK.

York Tourism Bureau hopes more than 100 conference organisers and buyers will attend, including Norwich Union, Jacksons stores, and the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

As well as generating business, the bureau hopes the showcase will raise York's profile as a quality conference destination, combining exceptional transport links with unusual venues, high quality hotels, stately homes and stunning modern complexes.

This year's showcase will be boosted by York-based rail operator GNER's support. Although its East Coast Main Line route will soon be up for grabs, it has offered 15 complimentary first-class return tickets between London and York to worthy conference buyers in the capital.

Laura Freer, conference marketing executive, said: "The Fourth Conference York Showcase is a fantastic opportunity to bring conference and events organisers to the city, to see for themselves what an ideal destination York is for conferences, events and meetings."

This year the showcase will have a culinary theme, with a cookery demonstration by one of York's top hotel chefs.

In the afternoon the bureau will organise a series of themed site visits, when buyers can choose which venues they most wish to see.

Exhibitors range from large venues such as the University of York, to training venues like the York Marriott hotel, unusual venues including York Mansion House, and luxury venues such as The Royal York Hotel and Middlethorpe Hall.