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Cheltenham Racecourse emerging as top MICE destination

Cheltenham Racecourse emerging as top MICE destination

Cheltenham Racecourse has seen a 30 per cent increase in conference and events bookings from the retail sector year on year, as it asserts its presence as the South West’s foremost meeting and exhibition destination.

Cheltenham Racecourse has a long history providing conference and events to a multitude of industries, with 2012 seeing a marked increase in bookings from the retail market. Bookings this year include L’Oreal Professionnel, Joules Clothing, Waitrose and Midcountries Co-operative.

The Centaur, a flexible space that can be transformed into a 2,250 seated auditorium, has proved the most popular space for bookings from this sector; enabling clients to create full scale pop-up store interiors for seasonal product ranges.

The auditorium boasts state-of-the-art lighting and sound capabilities with multiple break-out rooms for divisional meetings.

The Panoramic Suite, commanding scenic views of the racecourse, is also a favourite amongst this sector, providing guests with a refreshingly unique space complemented by countryside vistas.

Located only one mile from Cheltenham town centre, the course is accessible from the Midlands’ major arterial routes including the M40 and M5, as well as direct train links to London and Bristol.

Cheltenham Racecourse also boasts over 10,000 free car parking spaces as well as 300 acres available for outside events, making it an ideal choice for large scale events.

Susie Bradshaw, conference and events manager at Cheltenham Racecourse, said: “We are delighted to have seen such an increase from this niche sector and recognise the importance of offering a flexible approach to this very diverse market.

“Our size means there is an abundance of space to create large-scale events from catwalk shows for fashion brands to quite literally a pop-up corner shop.”