Conference Centres of Excellence drive marketing focus with new appointment

Ambitious expansion plans by the UK’s leading member organisation for dedicated conference and training centres has prompted the appointment of a full service communications agency.

Sales and marketing consortium Conference Centres of Excellence(CCE) is planning to grow its membership by 25 per cent in 2011 in addition to building its brand on a national and international level.

The consortium, which includes high profile specialist venues like Warwick Conferences, Conference Aston, the Moller Centre and Imago, has appointed West Midlands PR and marketing agency Interactive Wardlovett to drive forward communications activity.

CCE executive director Anthony Lishman said the organisation’s focus on expansion and brand building would form the basis for the communications activity for the year. “CCE is incredibly proud of the quality and the range of centres we represent and our goal for 2011 is to continue to grow our member base through the recruitment of high quality venues,” he said.

“We will also be working closely with Interactive Wardlovett to drive awareness of our brand and the benefits that working with us delivers for potential members and for organisations booking events.”
The communications campaign will encompass media relations, targeting conference and meetings press as well as proactively identifying opportunities in members’ client titles.

Interactive Wardlovett will also be carrying out research with members to create a twice yearly state of the industry report, something which Anthony believes CCE is uniquely placed to deliver.

“Our members host some of the most high profile events in the UK’s meeting calendar working with blue chip companies from across the globe,” he said.

“Working with all of our members to research the trends in the sector will provide a very valuable and insightful piece of research, which we believe will be of use to members and to their clients.

“We will also be looking at ways of proactively adding value and sharing best practice between our members, by creating a series of seminars hosted by experts in key areas like social media and the psychology of learning, managed and delivered by Interactive Wardlovett.”

Interactive Wardlovett PR director Jenni Fryer said the Cannock agency’s team was looking forward to starting work on the CCE account working alongside Anthony and his team.

“We are delighted to have been appointed by CCE to deliver the campaign, which we believe will add real value for both CCE and its members,” she said.

“Public relations has become far more than just delivering a series of press releases – it is about genuine engagement with audiences and stakeholders to give real benefits.

“The campaign we have created in partnership with CCE reflects the organisation’s business goals and will provide a genuine return on investment for CCE and its members.”

For further details about Conference Centres of Excellence visit http://www.cceonline.co.uk/news/News/CCE_drive_marketing_focus_with_new_appointment or call 0845 230 1414.