The West Midlands: successful business events start here
Contributed by Linda Best, Business Tourism & Events Strategic Lead, Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau
The West Midlands is a thriving destination for tourism and business events.
A record 101.5 million people visited the region last year, and our reputation as a top choice for business events was cemented in the spring when Birmingham was ranked the top UK regional destination for meetings by global events and hospitality technology provider, Cvent.
The first port of call for junior or “accidental” event planners should be the Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau. We celebrated our 40th birthday in 2022, when the region wowed the world at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Our experienced team offers expert advice, guidance and insight with invaluable support to ensure that organisers and delegates receive the best experience and welcome when spending time in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands.
We can provide a range of free services to deliver successful events in the region, including accommodation booking, venue location, social activities for your participants, and incentive programmes.
Comprising three major cities – Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton – and towns and boroughs including Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall, the West Midlands region is the most accessible part of the UK for domestic and international event attendees. Our central location can be reached by more than 90% of the country’s population within a four-hour travel time.
Our wide array of renowned venues can accommodate events of all types and sizes, whether it’s the UK’s largest exhibition venue, the NEC; The Grand Hotel and IET Austin Court in Birmingham city centre; or The Belfry Hotel & Resort, which this autumn unveiled a multi-million-pound expansion, opening its doors to its largest events space, The Masters Suite.
There are over 121,000 bed spaces across the West Midlands, so whether you’re working to a tight budget or looking to splash out, our region has a wealth of choice.
After your event, enjoy the West Midlands’ status as a culinary capital – we can boast more Michelin Star restaurants than anywhere else in the UK outside London, a range of independent eateries and festivals, and the famous balti dish. The region is also home to lots of exciting group activities, including the Black Country Living Museum, backdrop to the TV smash hit Peaky Blinders; stadium tours at Villa Park; and Cadbury World, which celebrates Britain’s biggest and best-loved chocolate maker.
