58 . www.conference-news.co.uk . February 2012COASTAL VENUESplanned as a high class resort in the 1860s. A couple of photos or a site visit later and organisers are usually sold," he adds.Venue Cymru hosts 1,000 meetings, conferences and events each year and its regional theatre hosts between 250 and 300 performances a year. The majority of Venue Cymru's clients are UK based, however, it says it is also popular with Welsh universities when seeking to host European or international scientifi c or academic meetings.The venue has recently moved its food and beverage offering in-house after many years with a franchisee. "It has given us the opportunity to be much more responsive to being creative with how we contract our clients' events," says La Trobe.Bournemouth The resort of Bournemouth says it's seeing increased interest in the destination as an events hub.Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) hosted events including the Bournemouth Tattoo Convention, the California Dreamin' Motorcycle Expo, the Communications Workers Union Annual Congress and the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland 2011 International Surgical Congress last year. These combined events brought in 11,000 delegates and exhibition visitors, contributing an estimated £10m of economic benefi t to the town.A spokesman for the venue tells CN: "Our 2012/2013 diaries are looking healthy showing a positive increase in association and exhibition business and negotiations are currently taking place to welcome new events to the town for 2014 and beyond."The venue says it is working in partnership with the town's hotels and local service providers to encourage delegates while they are in Bournemouth to make the most of the experience."We are continuing to invest in the building and have recently completed a refurbishment to one of our main conference spaces," adds the spokesman. "We are also planning future investment to ensure that our facilities remain competitive and appealing."It seems seaside resorts' reputations for being old fashioned, run-down and poor value are slowly diminishing, as they can now compete confi dently with the rest of them. Investment in Scarborough has produced signifi cant improvement in accomodation and facilitiesBournemouth newsThe Preston-based agency Glasgows has been awarded the contract to produce the Police Federation of England and Wales' Annual Conference, which will take place in May 2012 at the Bournemouth International Centre. The four-day event is expected to bring together 2,000 representatives of policing bodies from across the UK.Glasgows' Business Development Manager Amanda Gilmour says: "The annual conference is the Federation's largest and arguably most important event of the year; possibly even more so this year, as the delegates debate the sensitive issues surrounding proposed reductions to police numbers, pay, conditions and the fallout from this summer's riots."George Gallimore, Deputy Treasurer, Police Federation of England and Wales, added. "An event like the Police Federation Conference with its high profi le guests requires a fl exible and dedicated team to ensure its smooth running. In the Olympic year, with many challenges confronting the police offi cers of England and Wales, the 2012 Conference will be one of our most important to date."Glasgows will provide all event management and technical services for the event which comprises, at certain times, three simultaneous conference sessions in different parts of the venue as well as live online broadcasting.

Full page advert2 Caxton Street London SW1H OQWwww.sterminshotel.co.ukDISTINCTLY WESTMINSTERFollowing a dramatic £30 million refurbishment, St. Ermin's Hotel is now a unique blend of historically significant interiors, textural design and modern, innovative facilities.Located at the heart of Westminster, minutes from QEII, One Great George Street, Central Hall and Church House, St. Ermin's is perfectly situated for London business travel, hospitality and conferences.The hotel boasts 331 guest rooms and suites and 15 meeting and event spaces. The spaces, from the intimate meeting rooms to the grand ballroom, all provide state-of-the-art technology, an abundance of natural light and excellent service from an experienced meetings & events team. Considered food packages, served in the stylish break-out areas, are as flexible and innovative as the spaces.For more information or to arrange a show round, please contact Tom Walsh on +44 (0)20 7227 4816 or email twalsh@sterminshotel.co.ukJOIN US AT INTERNATIONAL CONFEX 2012 - STAND B211TO DISCOVER OUR GREAT OFFERS FOR 2012 AND TO ENTER A PRIZE DRAW TO WIN A YEAR'S SUPPLY OF WHITE COMPANY PRODUCTS