Meet Blackpool joins the Meetings Industry Association

Winter Gardens Blackpool also joins mia as a venue member

Both Meet Blackpool and Winter Gardens Blackpool have joined the Meetings Industry Association (mia), one of the fastest growing associations in the conference, meetings and events sector, further cementing the town’s dedication to the global events industry.

As part of its Destination’s Membership, Meet Blackpool will have access to the mia’s business support tools and business intelligence as well as the opportunity to join exclusive member learning events.

Julie Vincent, Head of Meet Blackpool said: “In Blackpool, we take business events seriously and have been investing significantly in our facilities, including with last year’s launch of  the town’s latest high tech, high spec meetings and events space, the Blackpool Conference & Exhibition Centre. We’re excited to have joined the mia and to have the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with like-minded destinations and industry leaders.”

In addition to this, Winter Gardens Blackpool has joined the mia as a venue member. As part of its membership, Winter Gardens Blackpool has secured the mia’s highly acclaimed AIM Secure accreditation. To achieve this, the venue had to meet a set of strict criteria including the quality of its meeting and events facilities; commitment to delivering a healthy and hygienic environment; service delivery; compliance with legislation and commitment towards diversity and inclusion.

Michael Williams, Managing Director, Winter Gardens Blackpool discussed the benefits of becoming a venue member: “To become a member of the mia opens up so many opportunities for us as a venue but, also for Blackpool as a destination. To have achieved the AIM Secure accreditation for our venue is testament to the hard work of all of our team members. This will give our clients, existing and potential, confidence in knowing that Winter Gardens Blackpool is a quality venue.”

Kerrin MacPhie, CEO, mia said: “We’re delighted that both Meet Blackpool and Winter Gardens Blackpool have joined the mia as a Destination Member and Venue Member respectively. Blackpool is an outstanding destination for business meetings and events in the UK and benefits from a wealth of infrastructure including high-capacity venues and an excellent choice of hotels.

“We’re also pleased to award Winter Gardens Blackpool with AIM Secure accreditation. The iconic quality assurance mark acts as a guarantee to buyers that they’re choosing a venue that cares about best practice and actively strives to meet and exceed expectations. With so many dedicated conference centres and hotels, sporting and academic venues to choose from nationwide, it offers an efficient way for event planners to quality control.”