Three UK venues - one newly opened, one planning to open, and one hoping to get plans approved, which will see it reopen on a new site next year.
ICC Wales opens its doors to meetings and events
The £84million ICC Wales has opened its doors to UK and international conferences, meetings and events, with more than 5,500 delegates passing through its doors in its first week.
The new 26,000 sqm ICC Wales can accommodate more than 5,000 delegates at a time and includes a 4,000 sqm pillar-free main hall, a 1,500 seated auditorium, 12 flexible meeting rooms, a double-height glass atrium and a 2,500sqm outdoor plaza.
Ian Edwards, ICC Wales’ CEO said: “We are all incredibly excited to be opening the ICC Wales doors this week and giving a warm Welsh welcome to our first ever delegates. I am hugely proud of the whole team who have worked tirelessly but always with a smile over the past two years to bring this incredible venue to fruition.
"We would also like to extend our thanks to Welsh Government and our partners across Wales, without whom this project would not have been possible. This, of course, is just the beginning, and we look forward to continuing to work together to welcome the meetings and events community to Wales and our fantastic new convention centre."
Eastside rooms plans 2020 opening
The eastside rooms, a new conference and events venue due to open next year in Birmingham, announced itself to event planners attending the Venues + Events Live show this week.
Currently under construction as part of the city’s ‘Eastside’ development, the new venue is in Birmingham's ‘Knowledge Quarter’ and sits alongside the city’s universities.
The Affinity Suite is the main space within the eastside rooms. It will be the city’s largest pillar-free banqueting room, able to seat up to 1,200 delegates.
The Affinity Suite is surrounded by over 800 sqm of plenary, breakout, meetings, and events space on floors one and two of the venue, including the Belmont Suite, which can host 400 delegates.
A 195-room Aloft Hotel with a mixture of standard and luxury suites adjoins the venue. There is also an on-site pub, which has been carefully restored from one of the city’s oldest public houses.
EventCity plans to relocate
EventCity in Manchester has submitted relocation plans, which if approved would see a state-of-the art events venue in TraffordCity.
The plans involve moving EventCity from its current location on Barton Dock Road, to the present site of Soccerdome. It intends to leave its current location and temporarily cease operations in July 2020, with a swift reopening of the new venue in September 2020.
Plans for the improved space include updated features, such as a central foyer with breakout space and a reconfigured entrance hall.
The venue will be designed to serve as a flexible conference, exhibition and gala dinner space. There will be divides available from 1,000 sqm upwards, a great option for those wanting to hold smaller events. It will also offer free parking spaces for circa 2,000 vehicles.
By Mike Fletcher