Blackpool’s open to change

Blackpool is officially back on the map as a business tourism destination!

Following the news the resort is to open a brand new conference facility in 2019, interest has grown and grown over the last few weeks.

But, we are delighted to announce that, first past the post and first to confirm their national congress will take place in Blackpool, is the GMB Union who will bring the national congress to resort in June 2020.

New bookings

Event organisers are really starting to believe the new regenerated Blackpool offer can once again compete with what’s available elsewhere.

Blackpool has reinvigorated its business tourism offer with over £500m of private and public investment in new amenities, upgraded accommodation, improved infrastructure and improved transport connectivity.

Investment

At the heart of the new offer will be the planned new £25m Blackpool Conference & Exhibition Centre which was announced in a speech by Prime Minister Theresa May earlier this year.

Being developed adjacent to the world-famous Winter Gardens, the new state-of-the-art 6,150 square metre conference space will be able to host up to 2,000 people independently, or working with the rest of the Winter Gardens up to 7,000 people in total.

New conference centre

Due to open May 2019, the new conference centre’s arrival will coincide with four new purpose-built hotels within the resort which have already been granted planning, and a fifth hotel adjoining the conference centre will complete phase II of the development.  

When all five hotels are successfully developed this will add an additional 700 rooms of four-star or above to Blackpool’s existing hotel stock, including 156 rooms adjacent to the new Winter Gardens development.

New transport hub

Another transformation will be the forthcoming electrification of the Blackpool to Preston rail line due to be completed next May.

This will result in an increase in the number of direct services to Blackpool from London and other major towns and cities from right across the UK.

Simultaneously Blackpool is set to get a new tram interchange at Blackpool North Station that will result in the resort’s Promenade tramway system linking to the main rail network. This means for the very first-time visitors from across the country will be able to travel directly to Blackpool by train into the new transport hub and then have direct access to the new in-resort transport system.

New attractions

Arrive for business, stay for leisure! Increased accessibility also means that delegates attending events at the new Winter Gardens conference centre will be able to easily explore the whole of the resort including our world-class attractions such as the iconic Blackpool Tower and Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

New infrastructure

Visitors will also enjoy the £250m transformation of the Blackpool seafront, a project which has seen the creation of six new headlands, the development of the sweeping Spanish steps which lead right onto the beach, the celebrated 2,200 square metre Comedy Carpet opposite The Blackpool Tower, and the remodelling of seven miles of Blackpool Promenade.

Blackpool is hoping to build on recent tourism figures which confirm its place as the UK’s most visited seaside resort.

Latest STEAM figures for Blackpool show the town enjoyed a 1.4% increase in visitors in 2015, taking the total to 17 million.

Make Blackpool the destination of choice for your business and take another look at what the resort can offer! Don’t let outdated perceptions be the reason for not considering the UK’s favourite seaside destination.

Lancashire Ambassadors

Ambassadors are experts in their field.  Drawn from several industry sectors, they are enthusiastic in their support for Blackpool to once again be a leader as a conference destination.

Research has shown Ambassador-led conferences generate substantial economic impact in many other towns and cities and helped raise the profile of many of the North West’s research, healthcare and education institutions.
Let the team submit a no obligation tender for your next event, we believe we can impress you with our venues, our accommodation offer, our social programme activity and our value for money.

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