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With 2010 set to be the year meetings make a comeback, VisitBrighton announces a series of development plans to be undertaken by some of its partners.
“We are delighted to announce that several of our most prestigious venues will look to develop and evolve their meeting, event and conference facilities over the coming year, further enhancing the destination’s already substantial MICE product,” comments Darren Johnson, Convention Bureau Sales Manager, VisitBrighton.
One of the destination’s most popular venues; ‘The Brighton Centre’ has recently been awarded almost £1million of additional funding to improve its visitor experience. The redevelopment plans will focus on improving the public areas of the venue, which will include an upgrade to the existing breakout areas and the addition of alfresco coffee shops. The conference centre’s Skyline restaurant will also benefit from the funding as well as new signage throughout and a significant investment in the furniture and furnishing over the coming year.
The largest banquet and conference facility to be built in Brighton & Hove since 1992 has also been planned. This comes as part of the Sussex County Cricket Club £8 million development designed to drive the club’s non-match day facilities. The development will be phased over two years. Phase One is due to be completed in April 2010 and will include the new banqueting and conference facility. Phase Two will see new builds of the South and South West stands and redevelopment of the member’s pavilion increasing the capacity of the two current rooms and creating a new cafe/bar/private reception room in the old stables.
Capitalising on the influx of smaller meetings coming to the city, Brighton Dome has partnered with myhotel Brighton for the launch of its fully equipped meeting space for less than 100 delegates in February. The Hilton Brighton Metropole will also announce the completion of its refurbishment of all 75 sea-facing bedrooms this month, which feature completely uninterrupted views of Brighton’s cosmopolitan seafront. Another hotel which has undergone recent refurbishments is The Thistle Brighton. The hotel’s meeting facilities, a selection of its bedrooms, The Promenade Restaurant and The Otium Leisure Club have all benefited from the upgrades.
“Continually investing in our MICE product has helped Brighton & Hove maintain its position as a premier business destination for the South coast,” concluded Darren Johnson.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
