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EXPERT
Cambridge Conference Ambassadors can help City’s recovery The official conference and events bureau for the city of Cambridge and the surrounding area is offering free support to encourage business professionals to champion the city as a destination for their association conferences and business events. Meet Cambridge, with a venue portfolio of Cambridge Colleges as founder members, as well as hotels and other meeting spaces, operates a Conference Ambassador Programme which offers individuals a host of services including bid assistance - practical help and resources to create compelling bid proposals which highlight the benefits that Cambridge can offer to associations and professional bodies for their conferences and events.
PLUS POINTS
With many national and international conferences and meetings rotating regularly between locations nationally and internationally there is significant competition between destinations. The Meet Cambridge team, with their extensive experience of conference bidding lend their expertise to bring focus on the considerable plus points of the city – both for the formal elements as well as the social programme. Judith Sloane, Head of Meet Cambridge, says: “Since we launched our Conference Ambassador Programme, we have had the pleasure of working with Cambridge-based business people and academics to create successful bids often against stiff competition from other cities across the world. Business events and conferences that take place in Cambridge not only to boost the local economy but they also facilitate the exchange of new ideas, offer potential opportunities for collaborations and of course they raise the profile of the local host. “Right now we are also hoping that potential event organisers based in Cambridge will step forward to play a part in the city’s post-pandemic recovery and promote Cambridge and its considerable advantages when planning future conferences and meetings. “Our free service can encompass a range of elements depending on the brief – some are listed below.”
WAYS TO HELP
• P ractical help and resources to demonstrate the advantages of Cambridge • Assistance with submitting a formal bid, including obtaining letters of support from Government and national agencies • Fully escorted site visits and hospitality for key decisionmakers
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• H elp with sourcing a professional conference organiser (PCO) or digital conference organiser (DCO).
COLLABORATIONS
Here are what a couple of organisations have said about Meet Cambridge’s Ambassador Programme: Julian M Allwood FREng, Professor of Engineering and the Environment at the University of Cambridge and organiser of the 12th International Conference on Technology of Plasticity: “Our short, informal meeting with Meet Cambridge led to a wonderful event where we celebrated research, inspired future generations and lifted a veil into a rich world of imagination, discovery and extraordinary large forces.” Margaret Jones, Music Collections Supervisor, Music Department, Cambridge University Library, local host for The International Association of Music Libraries, Congress, 2023: “The Meet Cambridge team really listened to our needs, made many helpful suggestions, and were incredibly helpful with site visits and at the bidding stage they were particularly vital in presenting Cambridge as a conference destination in the most polished and professional manner. It was a delight when we won the bid!” To find out more, email or call Meet Cambridge: 01223 768740, enquiries@meet-cambridge.com www.meet-cambridge.com
