Bath Tourism Plus (BTP) will be showcasing the city’s top attractions at the world’s leading exhibition for meetings, incentive travel and events in Frankfurt next week in a drive to attract more business events.
As continental Europe’s largest financial centre and home to one of the world’s largest hub airports, Frankfurt is a key target for Bath’s ambition to grow international tourism.
The German city is connected by direct, daily flights into Bristol, alongside flights from Hamburg, Munich and Hanover, attracting business travellers from the heart of Europe.
BTP will be among 3,500 exhibitors from more than 157 countries at IMEX. Held over three days from May 21, the global exhibition attracts around 9,000 key decision makers from more than 90 countries.
BTP is targeting high-end incentive event organisers who will ultimately decide whether to bring their conventions, conferences, corporate hospitality, product launches, special events or incentive programmes to Bath.
Bath Tourism conference sales & marketing executive Amy Barber has appointments with more than 100 key event organisers at IMEX armed with the fact that Bath is able to provide some of the most spectacular ‘wow factor’ venues to be found in the UK.
Bath Tourism Plus chief executive Nick Brooks-Sykes, pictured, said: “This is the latest in a series of high-profile activities led by Bath Tourism Plus which aims to increase international tourism into Bath and North East Somerset.
“By hosting international travel writers and incoming tour operators and by attending high-profile events like IMEX, we are sending out a strong message that Bath welcomes overseas tourists. Competition is tough, but we have a strong product offer and our focussed marketing activity is designed to deliver results at best value. The aim is to grow international tourism, currently worth almost £80m to the local economy, by 12% over three years.”
Bath along with Destination Bristol and Bristol Airport, will form part of the large VisitEngland Pavilion. Commanding a prime location, the pavilion will be in the centre of the exhibition hall in the UK and Ireland zone.
Amy Barber said: “Exhibiting at IMEX presents plenty of opportunity to raise Bath’s profile to potential clients looking to host events in the UK. Bath is an internationally recognised destination situated in a good location with great transport links in the UK and from mainland Europe. With its spectacular century-spanning architecture, Bath has plenty of unique venues to choose from, perfect for staging events and providing incentive activities.”
BTP will also stress Bath’s expanding conference facilities. The refurbishment of Hand Picked Hotels’ newly-acquired Bailbrook House Hotel with its state-of-the-art conference centre and the eagerly anticipated opening of the 5-star Gainsborough Hotel with its thermal spa, will add to Bath’s excellent range of unique venues.
BTP will also use its presence at IMEX to highlight the new European services into Bristol Airport.
As well as the direct Frankfurt flights, which increased to twice daily on Monday, bmi regional has also introduced services to Hanover and Hamburg along with a new service to Milan’s Malpensa Airport.
