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Conference boost for Scarborough Spa
Almost 3,500
conference delegates are to set to visit Scarborough Spa during
2011 – with the possibility of more on the horizon.
The Spa team has secured a variety of large
conferences for the season, spanning a total of 18 days.
One of the most high profile will be the
UKIP political party annual conference, to be held at the Spa in
early March.
The Spa team is also in discussions with
several other party conference organisers about securing some of
the regional conferences back to the Spa.
Cabinet portfolio holder for tourism and
culture, Cllr Janet Jefferson, said: “The conference trade booked
at the Spa so far this year, works out at almost 60,000 visits to
Scarborough, which is as a sizeable figure and the additional
economic benefits to the town and the wider area will be
substantial.
“Conference delegates will be spending
money in the hotels, bed and breakfast establishments, restaurants,
bars, entertainment venues and other attractions, helping to boost
the local economy and keep local people in jobs.
“I know the conference team at the Spa has
been working extremely hard to bring in new business and encourage
lost clients to return and I am delighted we have such a full year
ahead.
“Combined with exhibitions, dinners,
weddings and the full summer season of entertainment, the future
for the Spa is looking very bright indeed.”
Members of UKIP will be arriving in the
town on Friday March 4 for the two-day event at the Spa.
The main conference proceedings will take
place the following day, when members of the party will discuss the
party’s aims and ambitions for the forthcoming year.
Members will also be addressed by party
officials and special guest speakers, including the party’s leader
Nigel Farage. There will also be other events taking place over the
course of the weekend.
“UKIP has a massive level of support in Yorkshire, and even
though it will be a long way to travel for many of our supporters,
it will no doubt be worth making the trip up,” said UKIP MEP for
Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, Godfrey Bloom. “It’s around 10
years since Scarborough last held the event, and we are delighted
to be coming back to the area.”