A NEW campaign is being launched to position York as the number once choice for conference destinations in 2015 and beyond.

Spearheaded by VisitYork4Meetings, the campaign looks to highlight £20 million worth of developments which are taking place across venues in the city in 2014/15.

The move has been made to grow the city's conference industry, which currently generates £148.9 million annual income for York, representing 25 per cent of total visitor spend from more than 16,000 meetings, conferences and events.

Laura Freer, marketing manager for VisitYork4Meetings, the business tourism arm of Visit York, said: "Our aim is to ensure that York is just as popular a destination to hold a conference or event as it is for a leisure break.

"With a raft of investment planned at some of the city’s key venues, we plan to attract high profile conferences and events into York for 2015 and beyond."

Investments being made in the city's hotels include the £3 million redevelopment of the Best Western Monkbar Hotel, which will increase this city centre hotel’s status from three star to four star plus, and see the addition of a new function suite and conference space.

National Trust properties Middlethorpe Hall and Goddards have both invested in their corporate offering.

Middlethorpe Hall has refurbished its conference facilities, while Goddard’s, the Grade I listed former home to Noel Goddard Terry, of chocolate making fame, has opened up to business visitors for the first time.

On the attractions front, investments include the £8 million redevelopment of York Art Gallery, which will see the gallery space increased by 60 per cent, when it reopen in summer 2015 with availability for corporate functions.

Also in 2015, a £4.1m capital redevelopment at York Theatre Royal will see the most significant investment in the theatre since the 1960’s.

Meanwhile York Racecourse will add a sixth restaurant to its corporate hospitality offer, as its new Parade Ring Restaurant is set to open on May 13, 2015, the first day of the racing season.

Next year will also see the National Railway Museum will launch a new carriage in January; the Countess of York. The refurbished railway carriage, located in the Courtyard of the museum, will be available for exclusive hire.

Ms Freer said: "Never before have we seen so much investment in York venue offering in one year.

"This is an exciting time for business tourism in York and these new developments will add to York’s superb range of state of the art as well as historic and unusual venues.

"We’re confident we can position York as the must visit conference destination for 2015/16."

Visit York is the official business tourism body for York, representing over fifty quality conference venues. Its aim is to establish York and its surrounding area as a leading business tourism destination and to increase the value of business tourism to York.