Manchester recognised at meeting industry marketing awards

Marketing Manchester and VisitBritain have received a Silver Award at the 2009 Meetings Industry Marketing Awards (MIMA) for their delivery of the UK's flagship business tourism promotional event - Discovery.

The event, which promotes the UK as the place to host meetings, conferences and incentive experiences, took place in October 2008 and attracted some 80 of the world's most influential overseas buyers and journalists from 20 countries.

The independent judging panel of meetings industry experts and leading buyers were said to be particularly impressed with the event branding and collateral.

Andrew Stokes, chief executive of Marketing Manchester, said: "This was a team effort. We worked very closely with VisitBritain and regional partners in the run-up to the event and the venues that played host to the various aspects of Discovery did us proud. Manchester is rightly proud of its ability to host major conferences and events and for us to represent the rest of the UK in this field was a great honour. This award recognises a great deal of hard work by so many people and I think it is thoroughly deserved."

The Meetings Industry Marketing Awards (MIMA) was launched in 2002 to raise the standards of marketing in the meetings and events industry. Organised by Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine, the 2009 presentation banquet dinner took take place at the Park Plaza Riverbank in London.

For more information, visit: www.manchesterconferences.com