Meet Cambridge, funded by the Cambridge Colleges, is one of just four destination teams from around the UK to make it to the final, with a chance to win Best Destination Team in the Meetings Industry Awards (miaList) for 2022 which will be held in Birmingham on 17th November.
The other finalists are NewcastleGateshead, Visit Belfast and Liverpool Convention Bureau.
Getting shortlisted involved demonstrating how the Meet Cambridge’s team of six have succeeded in increasing the popularity of Cambridge as a place to hold meetings of all kinds, through supporting its portfolio of more than 50 venues.
Despite the challenges of homeworking through the pandemic, the team has shown flexibility in adapting its approach, but still managing to generate leads for events totalling £17.1 million and winning three international association conferences.
Other initiatives have included facilitating monthly online Hump Day Huddles for venues to share concerns and collaborating with a new professional conference organiser specialising in digital services, Opening Doors & Venues, to support hybrid events.
Judith Sloane, Head of Meet Cambridge said: “The team were thrilled to hear they had been selected for the Best Destination Team shortlist against stiff competition; having the team’s achievements recognised by our own industry is a major accolade.
"During the pandemic and ban on in-person events spurred us on to think outside the box in terms of supporting our clients and our venues with campaigns such as ‘Ready for You’ to give people confidence to start returning to in-person meetings.”
Meet Cambridge now faces a judging panel and a public vote. Voting is open now until 10th October.
The Meetings Industry Association (mia) is the principal association supporting and growing the business meetings and events industry in the UK, and the keeper of AIM, the UK’s only recognised quality standard for the sector.
Caption
The Meet Cambridge team left to right: Laura Rayyan; Ryan Gooda; Judith Sloane; Leah Hill and Sarah Maycock.
