The North Wales Conference Centre is undertaking a £10.7 million expansion plan to improve facilities and firmly place North Wales on the conference and incentive map.  Set beneath the foothills of Snowdonia and occupying spectacular views out to sea, the North Wales Conference Centre boasts one of the finest locations for professionally managed conferences in the UK.

Accommodating up to 5,000 delegates, the new venue has more than just location to add to its strengths.  The centre’s technology and facilities will include Wi-Fi connectivity, 3,500 square metres of exhibition space, 20 breakout and syndicate rooms, dedicated conference offices and a large scale 1,500 seat auditorium.  With funding from the Wales Tourist Board, Welsh Development Agency, the Arts Council of Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government and European Objective One, construction will begin in January 2005 and the centre is scheduled to be completed in June 2006. During this time the centre will remain open.

Pat Crimp, head of Business Tourism at the Wales Tourist Board said: “This venue is a fantastic asset to North Wales and will help to reinforce our position as an international conference destination.  With miles of unspoilt coastline and towering mountains, Wales provides a truly inspirational location for business events.  Recent investment such as the expansion of the North Wales Conference Centre means that Wales now boasts some world class business venues.”

In a venue not bound by urban breezeblock or city congestion, yet only 60 minutes from two major international airports (Manchester & Liverpool) the New North Wales Conference Centre provides a viable alternative to Wales’ capital city.  Previous bookings have included high profile conferences from the countries political parties, national industries and unions, with repeat business high.

Adrian La Trobe, conference and events manager, North Wales Conference Centre comments,
 “As conference organisers continue to seek alternative destinations to the usual urban sprawl, the venue has created a niche, offering everything conference organisers expect from first class facilities through to professional management in a location of natural outstanding beauty.”

For further information please call 01492 879771 or visit www.nwconference.co.uk

For further media information contact: Tess Sullivan/Heidi Hatfield, bgb communications,

020 7808 1358/tsullivan@bgb.co.uk

North Wales Conference Centre

Facts & figures

The new facilities will include:

• Delegate business centre
• Café bar (Starbucks) and restaurant
• 1550sq metre clear-span exhibition/conference space
• Executive boardroom
• Lecture room
• 20 syndicate/breakout rooms for 20 to 200 people
• Full Wi-Fi connectivity

• Theatre style seating on flat floor for 1,800
• Total exhibition space of 2580 sq meters
• Full banqueting for 1000 plus

Markets include:

• Conferences and conventions
• Meeting and training seminars
• Exhibitions and fairs
• Social functions and charity fundraisers
• Concerts
• Indoor sporting events

Other services provided by the venue:

• Exhibitions and shell scheme building
• Conference AV and staging
• Conference registration
• Marketing and box office solutions

Construction & funding:

• Funding partners –             Conwy County Borough Council (owners/operators)

Wales Tourist Board

Welsh Development Agency

Welsh Assembly Government

Welsh European Funding Office

The Arts Council of Wales

• Budget – £10.7million
• Architects – Hicton Madeley Architects Ltd
• Construction Begins – January 2005
• Planned Completion – May/June 2006
• Phased Construction period leaving building fully operational throughout