People, place and planet

Governments and convention bureaux often talk the talk of looking to the future. But Wales is walking the walk with its unique Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, with pillars linked to the nation’s wellbeing, health, sustainability, community spirit, and future generations.

These values underpin its approach to securing major congresses, thanks to a national events strategy launched by the Welsh government last year to outline plans to attract major events up until 2030; work on it was already underway when Covid hit, and the pandemic only served to reinforce “the importance of events to the visitor economy and the well-being of the nation”.

“We’re living in a new world of events, that value experience and purpose more than any other generation. Event organisers are not only using events to showcase their own values, but choosing destination and venue partners that align with them,” says Heledd Williams, Head of Business Events at Meet In Wales.

“At the same time, forward-thinking destinations like ours are really interrogating the true value of events that visit us. This is more than rooms and beds, it’s about legacy, values, and integration with the people of Wales, be they professional or personal.”

And this philosophy is paying off: Wales was identified by isla, the industry’s sustainability think tank, as a beacon for how destinations can champion sustainability in the events industry by supporting events based on values, not just capital. Event Wales' Sector Development Fund can offer a helping hand for conference planners with grants for sustainable events, as well as to help events taking place in Wales to operate more sustainably, working with local supply chains, for example, or creating local jobs.

Its business landscape ranges from technology to fintech and creativity, with the life sciences industry playing a major role: the sector currently employs more than 12,000 people in over 260 organisations with an approximate turnover of £2.6bn. Renewable energy is one of Wales’s key industrial growth sectors, attracting global investment and interest, and tech also takes centre stage when it comes to major events: Wales’ technology sector is worth an estimated £8.2bn per year and employs around 44,000 people.

Thanks to Associate Professor Denis Dennehy, a member of Meet In Wales’ ambitious ambassador programme, September saw Swansea University host the IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS23), in which delegates from the US, Canada, France, Ireland, Greece, Germany, Kenya, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the UK took part in presentations, keynote talks, panel sessions, and workshops. As well as benefitting from the Event Wales Business Events subvention fund, there was also support to help showcase the best of Welsh culture and hospitality.

Where to meet

If it’s good enough for Nato… check out Celtic Manor’s Caernarfon Suite for events up to 1,200 with a separate exhibition hall; as well as the 2014 Nato Summit, the team also delivered the 2010 Ryder Cup so are well versed in large-scale events.

An £83.7m joint venture between Celtic Manor and Welsh Government, ICC Wales - located on the edge of Coldra Woods within the grounds of the Celtic Manor Resort just outside Newport - can accommodate more than 5,000 delegates; spaces include a 4,000sqm pillar-free main hall and a 1,500-seated auditorium.

For smaller-scale gatherings, celebrate the history of the capital at Cardiff Castle (for up to 150), or the ornate City Hall for up to 600; both are run by the city's council. The 202-room Hilton Cardiff is well positioned for both and boasts its own ballroom that can accommodate 350 theatre-style.

North Wales is home to the recently refurbished Venue Cymru on Llandudno's seafront, the largest purpose-built venue in the region with room for up to 5,000 delegates. Or for that much-discussed wow factor, you can't beat Portmeirion Village with its five private function rooms catering to groups of 10 to 150 guests.

Case study: positioning Newport as a tech hub

In March, ICC Wales hosted Europe’s largest data platform conference, SQLBits, with more than 300 sessions taking place over five days. Highlights including using the exhibition hall for a combination of expo, catering, session rooms and a giant 50m wide video wall which streamed sessions from around the venue, all of which created a central networking space delegates gravitated to. 

"The ICC team have been the most welcoming and friendly people that we've dealt with," said event director Simon Sabin. "We're quite unique and they're quite unique too – what's been amazing has been their willingness to embrace what we know works for our attendees."

"Wales has growing and ambitious tech industries, encompassing everything from fintech, to our leadership within the production of compound semiconductors," add Williams from Meet in Wales. "These industries are getting solid backing within Wales and the establishment of these major events only supports them even more."

Contact

Heledd Williams
Head of Business Events
Meet In Wales
[email protected]  
www.meetinwales.com