CONFERENCE venues in York have hailed a new campaign by tourism chiefs aimed at boosting their bookings.

Organisers of Visit York 4 Meetings say its stronger and more coherent marketing campaign will stimulate business in a city with the most diverse range of conference venues in the country.

Laura Freer, business tourism manager, said they ranged from the striking Chapter House of York Minster, the 5* Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa and York Barbican to the Hospitium in the Museum Gardens, the Bar Convent Conference Centre and the University of York.

“The Visit York 4 Meetings team has an unrivalled knowledge of York and the surrounding area and, as well as being able to provide a complementary venue finding service, deliver accommodation bookings and produce bid-documents,” she said.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of Visit York, said: “As a city, you don’t get a more diverse range of conference venues than in York. Conference delegates also have the added bonus when booking a meeting or event in the city of enjoying an award-winning leisure destination, where they can experience the very best visitor attractions, theatres, restaurants and festivals.

“York will always add value to a delegate’s experience and Visit York 4 Meetings will take that message to a national and international audience.”

Plans include a meet-the-buyer event in London, aimed at attracting conference buyers from the capital and the south, the pursuit of international business tourism marketing opportunities in partnership with Visit England and a programme of exhibitions and workshops promoting York’s conference venues.

Maria Florou, general manager of Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa, said Visit York did a fantastic job of promoting the city’s business tourism facilities to the rest of UK and overseas.

She said: “We are right behind this new initiative which will help them really articulate the distinctiveness, variety and quality that York has to offer business travellers and conference organisers.”

James Foster, general manager of the Bar Convent, where there are four conferencing rooms, said it was a great initiative, adding: “York isn’t always considered for conferences but its location and history make it an ideal place.”