HOWDY there, folks - and a mighty welcome to Yorkshire.

Yesiree! The Yorkshire Tourist Board has been turning good old southern hospitality on its head today by hosting a jaunt for more than 100 professional buyers of conferences and meetings aboard The Dixie Queen, a Mississippi-style paddle steamer moored on the Thames.

It began with a dinner this afternoon and climaxes with an on-board "night at the races"

The guest list includes some of the largest names in conference buying, including the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, IBM, the Royal Society of Arts, Dixon Stores Group, the Trades Union Congress, the Commission for Racial Equality and pharmaceuticals giant Glaxo Smith Kline.

Tonight's Yorkshire theme at the races will feature the York Gold Cup, Prix de l'Arc de Kirklees, Scarborough Fillies' Steeplechase and the Harrogate Grand National.

David Andrews, chief executive of the York-based Yorkshire Tourist Board (born in Canada, mother American) said: "More than 20 per cent of all UK conferences are held in the North of England with an estimated value of £800 million. There is £5.8 billion worth of conference business going elsewhere. I want to see more of it coming to Yorkshire.

"This evening gives Yorkshire operators the chance to discuss buyers' needs face-to-face and lets them experience our hospitality first hand."

Updated: 09:35 Tuesday, June 18, 2002