Latest figures released by Meet Cambridge, the conference and events bureau for Cambridge and the region, highlight recent confirmations of 14 high profile international meetings coming to the city.
This coincides with the recent ranking of Cambridge as one of the top ten cities in the UK for the number of international association events held in 2018 by the International Congress and Convention Association.
The majority of the meetings are in the medical science and technology sectors, run by international associations which rotate the location for their events around the world each year, often following a selection process by their members.
Judith Sloane, Deputy Manager at Meet Cambridge, said: “We are delighted that our region has won in these 14 cases, with at least five further international events up to 2024 currently in the pipeline. Projections at this stage can only be approximate but it is likely that those confirmed will attract more than 3,000 delegates to the area, who will be staying in the region for between two and five days, delivering approximately £3.2 million economic impact to the region in terms of spend on accommodation, meals, tours and shopping.
“Most of these events are from the medical, technology and scientific sectors, for which Cambridge can deliver unique benefits in terms of tapping into the local expertise at our universities and the knowledge clusters at our science and technology parks, Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the new Biomedical Campus. All of these offer excellent opportunities for collaboration, peer-to-peer networking and knowledge transfer.
“This, together with our portfolio of inspirational venues – academic, unique spaces and hotels in the city and beyond – makes Cambridge a very attractive destination for international associations.”
Conferences already hosted in 2019 include: International Biocuration Conference; Annual Workshop Mathematical and Statistical Aspects of Molecular Biology and Evolution Evolving.
Confirmed meetings for the remainder of the year include: International Conference on Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction; Astro Hack Week; International Cell Wall Meeting and the International Conference on Smart Infrastructure and Construction.
For 2020, confirmed meetings include: International Symposium on Mathematical Theory of Networks and Systems; International Symposium on Geotechnical Aspects of Underground Construction in Soft Ground; 5th International Conference on Nanogenerators and Piezotronics; Recycling of Agricultural, Municipal and Industrial Residues in Agriculture Network; The Association for Computing Machinery International Conference on Human Robotic Interaction; the 20th biennial congress of the European Psychiatric Association Section of Epidemiology & Social Psychiatry and the 11th International Symposium on Veterinary Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy.
Some of these events have been successfully secured through a competitive bidding process with local representatives from the respective associations taking advantage of the free support, resources and practical help offered through Meet Cambridge’s Ambassador Programme. This aims to assist those who are passionate about promoting the many benefits that the city and the region can offer as a destination for international conferences.
* Figures calculated using VisitBritain Report:
Business Events Research: Delegate Spend and Trip Extension, November 2017
Meet Cambridge on 01223 768740 or www.meet-cambridge.com
Image: The Meet Cambridge team, left to right: Leah Gibson, Laura Rayyan, Kelly Vickers, Amy Beschizza and Judith Sloane.