The UK’s congress and convention sector will meet in Hull this week to discuss ‘Moving Forwards – Dare to be Different’ .
The ICCA UK and Ireland Chapter Annual Conference will take place in Hull at the Guildhall on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 September – it is their first live event since the pandemic.
Diane Waldron, Chair for the ICCA UK and Ireland Chapter, said: “We last all got together for our ICCA UK & Ireland Annual Conference in March 2020 in Wales, literally just a day or two before the first lockdown. We are very excited to once again be meeting our industry colleagues in person in Hull.”
The two-day event will discuss and explore various themes, including equality, diversity, inclusion and sustainability.
Speakers will include Katy Duke, CEO at The Deep and Hull Conference Ambassador, and Professor Mark Lorch, Professor of Science Communication at the University of Hull, who brought the British Science Festival to Hull in 2018.
Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council, will open the conference on Thursday 9 September.
He said: “We have made great strides in improving our reputation as a first-class congress and convention destination so I’m delighted that the ICCA UK and Ireland Annual Conference is taking place in Hull this year – especially considering that it is their first live event since the pandemic. This is a fantastic example of the faith that organisations have in choosing Hull as their conference destination, and the strength of our venues, attractions and experiences.
“Hull is a unique and vibrant city, making it an ideal location for conferences and events. The UK congress and convention industry is worth billions of pounds, meaning that attracting events and organisations gives a significant boost to our local economy and businesses.”
The conference and meetings industry is worth approximately £18 billion annually to the UK economy and Hull has positioned itself as an ideal location to host conferences. The city offers a range of unique locations, event spaces, experiences and activities.
Hull has a dedicated conference team, Conference Hull, which provides a range of services to support organisations interested in hosting a convention, congress or event in Hull.
Last year, Hull was recognised as one of the country’s most attractive and desirable places to host conferences and events.
Conference Hull, part of the council’s Visit Hull team, was awarded the Bronze Award in the Best UK Convention Bureau category at the M&IT Industry Awards.
Since 2018 the city has hosted a number of prestigious national events, such as the British Science Festival and the British Chess Championships.
You can find out more about the ICCA UK and Ireland Chapter Annual Conference here.
