After his speed-of-light visit to York in "virtual" form, media star Noel Edmonds talks Face2Face with Business Editor RON GODFREY.

HAVING travelled 1,200 miles in only 30 minutes, with a lingering stop-off in York, Noel Edmonds was in no mood for criticism.

After all, the broadcasting star had just proved that his new videoconferencing venture, Face2Face, could literally do the business by taking part in this month's National Meetings Week..

His bearded image was there for all to see by business people who had gathered for their own House Party in a special room at Westminster Business Centre at York Business Park in Nether Poppleton. They included Matthew and Sandra Tearney, proprietors of the business centre and John Gallery, managing director of Great Potential, the York-based hotel marketing agency.

Mr Edmonds chatted with them in the comfort of his office on his 850-acre estate in mid-Devon before zooming on, at the flick of a switch, to talk to his other party guests in London, Brighton, Solihull and Glasgow

These were among more than 60 Face2Face venues he had set up around the country, with 200 expected to be in place by next Christmas - a bold venture designed to cut down on wasteful travel time and cost not just for corporations, but individuals too.

Of course, there's nothing new about videoconferencing, but the technology and reception now reached the stage of clarity and cost where it was more than just a toy for elite corporations.

Besides, what made it different was its accessibility. His ambition: To make a videoconferencing centre no more than three minutes away for anyone. Subscribing members could pay as little as £50 an hour.

Naturally he wanted to concentrate on the obvious virtues "I've invested millions in video-communications. If this doesn't work, I'm really going to be upset!" he said in a mock whine.

But his voice took on steely tones when I asked whether Face2Face would have a drastic effect on York's conference industry which attracts about £80 million worth of spending per year.

No he did not. "Some people see this as a threat without realising that it is a massive opportunity.

"It is why we are now getting a lot of business centres signing up as business partners.

"Of course you sometimes need and want to meet in then flesh, but on many occasions the sheer cost and inconvenience can't be justified. We have to find a better and smarter way of working in this country. People are fed up with sitting for hours on the A1 and the M6. Or people actually get on a train at York for an hour-long meeting in London then go back. It's crazy."

One of the visitors invited to the Nether Poppleton centre to have a virtual chat with Noel was Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of the York Tourism Bureau. But - no snub intended - she genuinely couldn't make it.

But had she done so, Mrs Cruddas might have found herself largely in agreement with the former House Party star. "You can't deny technological progress. It's like email versus direct contact. There's a place for both," she said.

Conference organisers would always be excited by antique and unique venues such as York's Merchant Adventurers Hall, the Merchant Taylors and St William's College, she points out.

Besides, she says, real conferences are often linked to and financed by industry sector exhibitions - difficult for videoconferencing to achieve.

People wanted the social aspect of traditional conferences too, not just communication.

"Conference organisers can only sell what delegates want - and I expect it would be quite difficult selling videoconferencing on a large scale."

Updated: 09:54 Tuesday, October 28, 2003