We are the official Convention Bureau for Bristol, Bath and the surrounding region. Meet Bristol & Bath’s core focus is to promote its locations as top destinations for business events, while working with local businesses to secure events that benefit the region. The company was started over 20 years ago, as the ‘Bristol Tourism and Conference Bureau’ and has since developed a fantastic reputation locally and within the wider industry, maintaining strong partnerships with strategic partners, trade and media.
Photo by Apex Hotels
We are both an innovator and enabler. Our approach to destination management and marketing has been innovative. We were early adopters of channel based digital marketing and social media and are constantly trying new content ideas to see what inspires consumer behaviour.
As a trusted source of advice on our destination’s events offering and capabilities, Meet Bristol & Bath enables innovation. Our Ambassador programme is a prime example of how we enhance the region’s reputation as a stand-out events destination, as we bring on board local professionals who are at the top of their industries to bid for high value business events. It’s about building valuable connections that generate conference and event business.
We take building those connections global too. You’ll find us singing the praises of the region’s venues and suppliers at international trade shows such as IMEX Frankfurt and IBTM, networking on behalf of our partners and introducing them and our cities to new markets.
Then there’s our digital presence, which gives businesses a trusted platform to promote themselves through. With a high-ranking website and separate consumer and B2B channels, there’s ample opportunity to get their services seen by the right audience, from a simple website listing to dedicated newsletters. We see the results in both increased brand awareness and direct sales for those featured businesses.
We work exclusively for the Bristol and Bath region. While we are not a traditional venue finding agency, venue finding is part of our portfolio and so unlike other agencies, our sole focus is on the Bristol, Bath and the surrounding areas. We do not have a client base where business is placed anywhere else.
There’s nowhere else quite like Bristol & Bath and our passion for what our brilliant destinations have to offer underpins all of our work. We’re proud of its creativity, diversity, heritage and innovative spirit, all of which add up to exciting and unique opportunities for event organisers, from gatherings on Brunel’s history-making SS Great Britain, a conference at one of the University of Bristol’s historic venues to drinks receptions and gala dinners at the stunning Roman Baths and Pump Room. Our passion for our destinations is matched by our inside-out knowledge of our partners’ venues and offerings too.
Our rebrand to Meet Bristol & Bath in February 2021 has given us the exciting opportunity to learn about and work with businesses in a new destination.
The effects of the pandemic have brought challenges for us and the event industry in its entirety. However, it has also provided a valuable opportunity to re-educate ourselves on new protocols and trends that impact on how we market and sell our destinations for business events. We always look forward to partnering with clients who are considering hosting events in Bristol and Bath, focusing on ways to enhance the experience of delegates and make the most of what’s on offer. As newly joined members of The International Congress and Convention Association, we’ll be engaging with more international associations and bidding for new business related to Bristol and Bath’s economic sector strengths. We will have significant new investment in infrastructure over the coming years, and so will have the ability to bid for and work with events that are larger in scale than anything seen before.
Connectivity – Both cities are easily accessible, with Bristol Airport under 45 minutes away from each location. The Bristol & Bath region is one of the strongest economies in Europe and is home to globally recognised industry clusters. Key economic strengths are in Advanced Engineering & Aerospace, High-Tech, Digital & Creative, Energy, Life Sciences and Professional Services. These are supported by major global players, creative start-ups and four leading Universities between the two cities.
