Lowry hosts tourism conference
The 21st annual Tourism Management Institute convention takes place in Salford Quays' Lowry arts centre next week.
Around 120 delegates will be based in The Lowry, Salford Quays on 6 and 7 October for the conference focused on destination management within the tourism industry. The event will also offer Salford the chance to showcase the city to a national, professional audience.
The audience will include tourist industry professionals, mainly those involved in Destination Management – including local authority tourism officers, town centre managers, staff at Destination management organisations, plus consultants and suppliers.
Speakers include David Clarke, former CEO of Best Western and star of Channel 4's 'Undercover Boss' show; Chris Foy, head of 2012 Games at Visit Britain; Sharon Orrell, Visit England; Noel James of Historic Towns Forum; Jacquie Reilly of Association of Town Centre Management.
TMI is part of the Tourism Society, which supports professionals who promote and develop destinations across the UK, Europe and worldwide and works closely with Visit Britain and government departments.
Salford was chosen to host the 2011 conference by TMI, attracted by what is a key year in both the city's history and in terms of its rich and diverse tourism offer.
This year is the 250th anniversary of the opening of the Bridgewater Canal in 1761 and also sees the arrival of the BBC to Media City UK across the water from the Lowry.
Cllr John Merry, leader of Salford City Council, said: "Tourism is an important contributor to our economy and reputation, and so it is a great coup for Salford to host the TMI conference and we welcome its delegates to the city. Whilst we attracted over 6 million visitors to our city in 2009, we are always seeking to raise the city's profile further, and we look forward to sharing ideas with other destination management professionals and hopefully welcome many more people visitors in the coming years."
