Working with the Visit West Convention Bureau

The team offer event planners the following services; 

• Venue finding - A tailored multi-venue event proposal with capacity, pricing and access information. 

• Group accommodation - Negotiated rates, secured room allocations and a bespoke delegate booking page. 

• Supplier introductions - Connections to vetted local suppliers including AV, transport, catering and event management. 

• Travel information - Advice on how to travel to the region and preferred delegate fares with GWR.

• Familiarisation visits - Arranged and accompanied site visits to venues and across the destination. 

• Social & partner programmes - Recommendations for off-site dining, cultural experiences and partner itineraries. 

• Destination assets - High-resolution imagery, maps and destination guides for event communications. 

• Bid preparation support - Expert guidance for conference organisers.

• Legacy planning - Support in developing a positive local impact and legacy as a result of your event taking place.

To find out more, head to visitwestconventionbureau.co.uk, connect with the team on LinkedIn, Instagram, or e-mail events@visitwest.co.uk 

Events are essential for building the relationships that underpin successful conference and event placement, and the Visit West Convention Bureau attends a number of these throughout the year, promoting the wider Bristol, Bath and West of England region as a leading destination for meetings, conferences and events.

The Convention Bureau reviews its event attendance regularly to ensure it is reaching the right buyers and delivering the best possible value for the region's venues and suppliers.

Events the Visit West Convention Bureau regularly attends:

• The Meetings Show – the UK's leading trade show for the meetings and events industry, held annually in London, bringing together venues, destinations and event buyers for two days of networking and pre-scheduled appointments.
• IBTM World – a major global meetings industry trade show held each November in Barcelona, attracting event planners, agencies and buyers from around the world.

Familiarisation (fam) trips

The Convention Bureau also organises familiarisation (fam) trips to the region, giving event organisers and agencies the opportunity to experience Bristol, Bath and the surrounding area first-hand - exploring venues, hotels and unique spaces to better understand what the region has to offer for their events.

To find out more or to arrange a meeting, get in touch with the Visit West Convention Bureau.

An important part of the Convention Bureau’s activity is researching and targeting international association conferences. These events are long lead and often take place over multiple days, link with the region’s sector strengths and provide a positive economic impact for the destination. 

If you are an event organiser, academic or industry expert and are considering bidding for an event within your field, the team can help. They are experts at promoting the destination, have in depth knowledge of the facilities available and offer free venue and accommodation finding services. They are well connected and can make introductions to event suppliers and people within the city who can enhance the event bid. 

The Convention Bureau works closely with Meet England, VisitBritain Business Events and other destinations to ensure that our work is both sustainable and impactful.  

MeetEngland is committed to promoting regenerative travel, working in partnership with destinations and suppliers to ensure that tourism activity and events create positive outcomes for visitors, host communities, the environment and the prosperity of England’s visitor economy.  Their work in sustainable and impactful business events is exceptional and we promote this to venues rather than create our own. 

As a Visit West Gold or Partner member, there are numerous opportunities throughout the year to market your product or service to conference and event planners. Here is what to expect: 

• Representation through our attendance at both national and international trade events and exhibitions. 

• Feature in quarterly newsletters sent to event planners, associations and agents. 

• Promotion via the Visit West Convention Bureau social media channels (LinkedIn & Instagram)  

• Listing on the Visit West Convention Bureau website.  

• Feature in industry blog posts. 

• Co-exhibit with Visit West Convention Bureau and other partners at industry trade events & exhibitions at discounted rates. 

• Attend or speak at member networking events, and present your venue or services to other Visit West members. 

• Co-host familiarisation trips to showcase your venue or services and build relationships with new prospective clients whom you may not otherwise have had access to. 

From familiarisation trips and industry events to the latest regional updates, here's what's been happening in the world of business events and what it means for your business.