Excellence On Our Doorstep

2nd August 2010

By Tony Openshaw, Director of Marketing, Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board.

In today’s hectic business world it is sometimes quite easy to miss the things that are happening on your doorstep – or even to take things for granted.

Here in Lancashire and Blackpool we are blessed with vibrant communities, glorious countryside and coast as well as great heritage.

Our great variety of top-class venues for business conferences and meetings is also far from ordinary. Our ability to meet the ever more demanding needs of the business tourism sector is attracting conference delegates from across the UK as our national profile continues to rise.

From historic medieval halls to quality sporting venues and not forgetting Britain’s favourite beach resort, Lancashire and Blackpool has the ability to do business – whatever the type or size of event. 

But what is sometimes forgotten locally is that Lancashire and Blackpool is the perfect setting for businesses actually based here to hold their events.

And perhaps now is the time for those businesses to look closer to home. They will certainly get value for money, be impressed by the initiatives taking place to give them even more and they will also see Lancashire and Blackpool striving to achieve the highest standards for quality and distinctiveness.

For instance, places like Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf complex in Langho go that extra mile to make people attending meetings feel special. Attention to detail is everything and they’ve even created a branded goody bag for delegates, with options ranging from local Lancashire delicacies to treats for chocoholics.

Businesses locally may also be unaware of all the development work that has been carried out in business tourism to raise standards and improve our offering even further.

That work is paying off, with our conference and meeting venues excelling in a recent ‘mystery shopper’ survey.

The study, carried out by independent researchers, tested 46 venues across the area on key priorities, such as managing enquiries and customer service.

The results were impressive and included:

·  One venue scoring 100 per cent across all categories and another four scoring 97 per cent or above.

·  12 venues scored 100 per cent for dealing with online enquiries.

·  The average score for effectively dealing with telephone enquiries was 95 per cent, with 31 venues scoring 100 per cent.

The work to further improve quality goes on across the county. Best Western Premier Leyland Hotel recently underwent major refurbishment costing £6 million and has been awarded the highest four-star grading from the AA in the region.

In North Lancashire, the famous art deco Midland Hotel on Morecambe’s seafront has received a special award for restoration in the 2010 Civic Trust Awards and won the Small Hotel of The Year Award, in the 2010 Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards

And the 19^th Century Westleigh House in Lea, Preston, has been transformed into a new state-of-the-art conference centre after being bought by the University of Central Lancashire.

Blackpool is of course gearing up for the Premiership and there’s much excitement at the building work at Bloomfield Road, as the new south stand starts to take shape adding to the corporate hospitality opportunities as the ‘Seasiders’ join the top flight.

We are also very much here to help andadvise local businesses about the facilities that exist on their doorstep and how they can use them to their advantage.

Our expert team can help source any size of venue, offering free, impartial advice and support, whether that be ideas for entertainment, study tours or delegate itineraries.

As Lancashire shows time and time again – local definitely does not have to mean ordinary. Our vibrant business tourism sector clearly proves that to be the case.

For further information on conference organising, please contact Lancashire & Blackpool Conferences & Meetings on 0845 371 4453/4 or e-mail: enquiries@lancashireandblackpoolconference.com or visit www.lancashireandblackpoolconference.com

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