HIC Talk

Harrogate International Centre (HIC) has retained the business for a long running consumer exhibition and an academic conference. The two events will bring in excess of an estimated £500,000 in economic benefit to Harrogate and the region.

The Knitting and Stitching Show has rebooked HIC for a three day exhibition in November this year. The show, which has been held at HIC for 20 years, is one of three the organisers hold across the country. It is expected to attract around 10,000 visitors each day. As well as a wide range of exhibitors, the event also features demonstrations, workshops and artist galleries.

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The British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP) has signed a two year deal to host its annual summer meeting at Harrogate International Centre (HIC) – a deal worth £120,000.

The event will bring 500 visitors to the town during the four day meeting, contributing more than £500,000 to the local economy. The summer meeting is the largest the BAP organises, and it has been held at HIC most years since 2001.

BAP brings together people from the clinical and experimental disciplines as well as members of the pharmaceutical industry involved in the study of psychopharmacology. It is one of many high profile medical organisations which choose to host large conferences and meetings at HIC.

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At a time when we are all struggling, have venues become their own worst enemy? For too long we have been blaming event organisers for creating shorter lead times by leaving bookings until the last minute. But maybe we should consider the impact of our own practices before laying the blame on other peoples’ doors.

Yes, we’d all like conference, exhibition or meetings to be booked and confirmed months in advance instead of being made at the last minute. But with the economy still looking uncertain and conferencing budgets being squeezed tightly, organisers and businesses are looking at ways they can get value for money. For some this means leaving the decision on the venue until the last possible minute in an attempt to get a better deal. And some venues are encouraging late bookings by offering last minute deals with massive discounts. This drives down prices and decrease lead times.

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Every artist, writer, or composer begins each new work with a blank canvas. All that blank space is free to work with and fill with whatever they want to convey. Harrogate International Centre (HIC) may not be an artist, writer or composer. But we do have a blank canvas of our own.

Following the completion of Halls H & G at the end of 2011, clients can not only take advantage of the additional space available and better flow to the existing facilities, but because the halls provide event organisers with a blank canvas, clients have the opportunity to create anything they want. The options are endless, whether the client is a conference, event or exhibition organiser.

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Harrogate International Centre, has reported a growing trend for business contracting with shorter lead times.

In the last 6 months, the venue has seen a rise in the number of events booked within 6-8 weeks of the event being held. Angus Houston, director at HIC, believes shorter lead times should not be seen as a major hurdle for venues but as an opportunity to introduce higher standards of customer service to ensure events always run smoothly.

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Harrogate International Centre (HIC) has generated a substantial number of new leads from its activities at International Confex. The event was highly successful for the north’s premier conference and event venue where it promoted everything the region has to offer business visitors.

HIC kicked-off the week off with an Olympic themed party at Tower Bridge West Walkway, which was quoted as ‘the hottest ticket in town’ and where Eddie the Eagle Edwards was guest of honour. More than 100 event organisers and buyers attended the evening, enjoying a sumptuous three course meal with the opportunity to meet the HIC team, learn more about its facilities as well as its plans for the future.

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Harrogate International Centre (HIC) has built a reputation as one of the premier combined conference and exhibition centres in the UK.

Blending premium facilities and unbeatable customer service with a unique town centre location halfway between Edinburgh and London; it is easy to see why HIC is considered to be one of Europe’s top venues. It is perfect for corporate conferences, sales presentations, exhibitions, trade shows and product launches as the facilities include a state-of-the-art 2,000-seater main auditorium, the Queen’s Suite, the Royal Hall and King’s Suite.

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New Halls H and G provide exhibition organisers with a blank canvas.

Exhibition organisers holding events at Harrogate International Centre (HIC) can not only take advantage of the additional space offered by new Halls H and G, but because the halls provide a blank canvas they have the opportunity to create anything they want. The options are endless, whether the client is a conference, event or exhibition organiser.

Conference planners can use the additional spaces to build stage sets and auditoria to their own specification, making an unique an highly unusual meeting room.  Alternatively they could even be used as huge breakout spaces for large events with substantial sub-meetings.

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Eddie the Eagle Edwards will be the guest of honour at Harrogate International Centre’s (HIC) Olympic themed party during International Confex.

Guest are being invited to meet the HIC team and discover more about the venue’s new facilities at the event which is being held at the panoramic Tower Bridge West Walkway on March 6th (7pm). The uplifting celebration will start with a drinks reception followed by a three course dinner.

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There’s no denying that conference and event budgets are being squeezed and organisers want to make their money work harder. While choosing a seating layout might not be the most exciting topic it is an important part of the planning process.

How delegates are seated will decide the value they get from the conference experience. If delegates get more out of the event it results in better value for the organisers. So seating is something that needs careful consideration.

Many conferences still use traditional theatre style seating. It can be very effective when a large number of people are attending because it allows people to see and hear everything that is being said or projected onto a screen. But is this really the most effective way of seating delegates for smaller meetings?

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