Warwickshire Exhibition Centre (Venues Guide)

The latest in our Exhibition venues guide series takes us to Warwickshire, UK for Warwickshire Exhibition Centre.

Located just over 10 miles from Coventry (between Birmingham, Northampton and Gloucester) the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre is a fairly news venue and one which is gaining a good reputation. In the last year the venue has signed up some good exhibitions including the:

• International Living History Fair
• International Model Boat Show
• Little Monster Baby and Toddler Show

With over two thousand square metres of exhibition space and an additional outdoor exhibition area, this venue can hold fairly sizable exhibitions. The disadvantage of this venue is that it is not located right next to a major airport such as the London, Edinburgh and Birmingham Exhibition centres. On the plus side though, the venue offers free parking and congestion is less than the bigger cities and the venue cheaper to rent. As an attendee to an event at this venue, the location in terms of the UK is also very central.

The venue is very close to Leamington Spa and this offers a pleasant location for staying in, if you need to spend 2 or 3 days attending the exhibition venue for an event. You can learn more about the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre online.

Summer Exhibitions: Sun & Swim 2009

One of the shows each summer which is always fun to attend and which focuses on the sun and summer activities is here again - the Sun & Swim Show. This year's show takes place at Harrogate Exhibition Centre in Northern England and is scheduled for the 16th, 17th and 18th August.

The Sun & Swim Show has now been combined with the Lingerie Show to make one exhibition under one roof for the trade. This show has now become the leading trade event in the UK for lingerie and swimwear and this is thus now an important industry event.

At this year's event you can expect to see a lot of major labels and suppliers with some names who are signed up to attend including:

• Banana Moon
• Cottonreal Lingerie
• Independent Fashions
• Panache
• Simply Stunning 4 U

This show used to be solely based in London at the Olympia Exhibition Centre and now it seems largely to have moved to Harrogate. As a result of this you can expect to see 'London Fashion Week' but in the Harrogate Centre.

Tickets: You can register online to get tickets for the show and for any other information regards the show you can contact Joanna Puckett (Exhibition Coordinator) on Telephone: 020 7973 4670.

International Event Management courses

Several enquiries come in asking about courses in Exhibition and Events Management courses and the good news is that there are some excellent courses within the UK.

In past posts we have mentioned some courses including:

• Plymouth University - BSc Events Management degree course.
• Degree courses in Leeds and Birmingham.

The University of Surrey is another UK university who now also offer courses in Exhibition and Events Management. The university offers various choices incuding at MSc, PGDip and PGCert levels. To apply for the course you need already to have a Bachelors Degree, although work experience in some instances is accepted instead.

For the full MSc course the training lasts for 12 months and starts September 2009 for the next intake. If you are interested in learning more or in applying for the course then you can contact Dr Donna Chambers or the admins office via:

Telephone: 01483 683076 or email: pg-enquiries@surrey.ac.uk

Exibition Venues Profile: Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle

In the Northern part of the UK, there are some excellent exhibition venues in Scotland, such as the SECC (Scottish Exhibition Centre and Aberdeen Exhibition centre), but between Scotland and Manchester, there are few venues of note.

In Newcastle though there is a smaller venue which can be used by exhibition organisers and this is the Metro Radio Arena (SatNav: NE4 7NA and Telephone: 0844 493 4567). The Metro Arena admittedly is used more so as a concert and live performance venue, with performers such as Elton John, Tom Jones and UB40 playing there. The Metro Arena is still though perfectly suited to exhibitions and has facilities to cater for this.

With the largest Exhibition Facilities in the North-East, England and with almost 4000 sqm of exhibition space, the venue can hold sizable exhibitions. The venue is also able to offer:

• Six hundred and fifty parking slots
• An exhibition support team
• Catering facilities
• I.T. support

The locality to Newcastle International Airport and the connections with the rail Metro system make the venue practical also for international attendees. You can learn more about the venue via Metro Radio Arena Exhibitions.

Exhibition Venues Profile: Kent Showground

In the South-East area of the UK, apart from the various exhibition venues in London, another option is the Kent Showgrounds.

Although primarily used for agricultural and outdoor shows, Kent Showgrounds have started to host a variety of exhibitions and fairs including the:

• Autumn Garden Show
• National Fruit Show
• Wedding Experience
• Crafts for Christmas

The venue has 4 buildings/pavilions for Exhibitions, in addition to conference rooms and the main showgrounds. If the exhibition you are organising can benefit greatly from outdoor space then Kent Showgrounds is the kind of venue which might suit you more than a fully indoor exhibition venue.

You can learn more about the Exhibition space at Kent Showgrounds online. Also need outdoor graphics and exhibition stands?

Exhibition Venues Profile: Edinburgh Royal Highland Centre

Scotland has a couple of excellent exhibition venues with the SECC (Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre) and the Aberdeen Exhibition Centre. There is another venue though which is becoming popular with exhibition organisers and attendees: The Royal Highland Centre.

The Royal Highland Centre, situated in Newbridge Edinburgh, is right next to Edinburgh international airport, making this venue extremely handy. With excellent facilities including several exhibition halls, accommodation, banqueting and up-to-date I.T. and communications access, people are warming to this venue.

Events in 2009 at the Royal Highland Centre include the Scottish:

• Home Improvement & Self Build Show
• Quilt Fair
• Motorcycle Show
• Wedding Show

For 2009, the Edinburgh Festival will also use the Royal Highland as one of the venues. For more information about the Royal Highland Exhibition Centre, you can go to royalhighlandcentre.co.uk online.

Hampton Court Flower Show 2009

It is almost that time again when Wimbledon tennis tournament starts, Glastonbury Music Festival takes place and of course, the annual Hampton Court Flower Show begins.

Although an event which largely takes place in the outdoors and not in one of the main exhibitions centres of venues, this show attracts a number of exhibitors and vendors. For garden lovers, this is a wonderful event to attend each summer.

Organised by the Royal Horticultural Society, this years show takes place between the 7th-12th July at Hampton Court Palace (situated in East Molesey, Surrey). The show this time will also include more focus on ecology and organic growth. Special features at the show include the:

• Garden Energy - focusing on sustainable growing.
• Catwalk in bloom - an interesting combination of fashion and flowers.
• Main show gardens - which are vast and are the highlight of the annual show.
• Plant Heritage Marquee

Apart from Chelsea Flower Show and BBC Gardeners World, Hampton Court is the main gardening festival of the annual events and exhibition calendar. What makes this show especially exciting though is the venue, with Hampton Court Palace a wonderful venue which is worth visiting in its own right.

Tickets for the show are available online from the official website. If you need any advice on exhibition and display stands for the event, then Clip Display Ltd also have an online presence and can help you.

Exhibitions News updates: Online articles

A number of new articles are now live online covering a number of areas associated with the Exhibitions industry. New titles online include:

• A Guide to the Montpellier - Parc Des Expositions
• A guide to London Fashion week
• A Guide to the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Center
• Exhibition Advice and Tips: Do not forget that you can still sign up for Exhibition Advice and Tips.

There are a number of files you can download to learn about exhibiting and also How not to Exhibit.

Exhibitions in Hong Kong: Country Spotlight

For part 2 of our country spotlight we stay in Asia and take a look at Hong Kong and exhibitions. Hong Kong is another excellent venue which provides the perfect location for people coming from Europe and Australia with its geographical location several hours closer than Japan and Australia to Europe, but still nicely placed for Australasian visitors.

Hong Kong is also able to provide world class facilities with the purpose built Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, which is familiar with holding world class events and exhibitions. Hong Kong also though boast several other options with venues including AsiaWorld, the Grand Hyatt and the Four Seasons Hotel. All of these venues are used as exhibition venues although certainly the main venue is the HK CEC.

The Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre holds a hundred plus exhibition annually and some of the larger events include the:

• Health ExpoRetail
• AsiaNatural products Expo
• Business and Design Week

One of the most impressive things about the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre is the location. Sat beside the bay, the venue provides excellent views, especially in the evenings. The venue itself also has seven exhibition halls and all of the facilities one would expect for large international events.

Detailed information on the main exhibition centre can be found via http://www.hkcec.com.hk/. Looking for exhibitions stands for Asia?

The BBC Good Food Show 2009 – in Birmingham’s NEC

There are some exhibitions which we go to for business only and some for pleasure only. Some shows though can combine both and the BBC Good Food Show is one of those events which is a pleasure to have to attend. Being surrounded by delicious foods, having the chance to do food tastings and generally having the chance to learn about a variety of world foods is fun for most people.

The Good Food Show takes place annually and at different venues throughout the year. Coming between the 10th and 14th June though is the Birmingham NEC version of the show. As with previous Good Food Shows, there will be an impressive number of things going on at the event. The show for example this year includes sections dedicated to the:

• Live Food Theatre
• Grow Your Own food area
• World Beers section
• Main exhibitions area

This is a real dynamic show with a number of expert chefs on site, with exhibitors and suppliers from around the world and covering world cuisine. You can learn more information direct via bbcgoodfoodshowsummer.com

Exhibitions in Singapore: Country Spotlight (Part 1)

Singapore is a country which has a very interesting location in terms of world and international exhibitions, with Singapore ideally located between Australia/NZ, Europe and Asia. Singapore is more practical than Australia for European exhibition organisers and exhibitors and still very practical for Asia and European visitors or exhibitions, making this a perfect location in many respects as opposed to less central places.

The main venue in Singapore is the ‘SUNTEC Singapore International Exhibition and Conference Centre’ and this venue has excellent facilities and is a nice place to attend an exhibition.

The SUNTEC venue holds a number of international and large exhibitions and shows such as the PC ShowGifts and Premium Fair and the Singapore International Jewellery Show. One of the things which stands out immediately when exhibiting here is just how polite people are. As an exhibition organiser it is great to experience the desire of the staff to help and willingness to do anything to make one happy.

The venue covers over one hundred thousand square meters and this means that the exhibition halls can accommodate up to a total of ten thousand visitors. The thing that I like most about the venue is that like most places in Singapore, the venue is very central and thus close to the hotels, restaurants and getting to and from the venue is straight forward.

Exhibitions Information and guides online

Exhibition News updates: Several more Exhibition articles are now online covering a number of subjects and which might well be of interest to you. Some choice titles:

• 10 Exhibitions to attend in New Zealand
• A Guide to the Montpellier - Parc des Expositions
• A Guide to London Fashion Week
• Guide to the annual Plasa Exhibition
• A guide to the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

For the Diary: Do not forget that the BBC Good Food Show takes place at the end of next week at Birmingham's NEC exhibition Centre. This is an excellent show for trying different foods, attending some excellent workshops and being around food.

Saving money in a recession: A quick reminder that the UK based Exhibition Stands specialists, Clip Ltd, now sell Exhibition stands online. To buy Exhibition Stands online and save up to 40% you can visit http://www.clipdisplay.com/

3 Wine Shows worth visiting

There are several excellent annual and bi-annual wine exhibitions and shows which take place around the world. A look below at three of my favourite wine shows in Europe.

1. Forum Vini (Munich Germany) - Munich is a wonderful place for an exhibition or show with plenty to do in the city in ones spare time and also with excellent facilities and transportation within the city. Forum Vini is an annual show which takes place in November of each year and which attracts wine lovers from across Europe. This is a trade event and an excellent one if you are in the business.

2. London Wine Fair, UK is another annual event and which takes place in May of every year and is well worth attending if you have the chance. This is open to the public and the exhibition includes wine tastings, workshops and the chance to meet wine growers and sellers from across the world.

3. The Fine Wine Fair (Valencia, Spain) is an excellent exhibition and which takes place bi-annually at the Feria Exhibition Centre. If you love Spanish wines there is a large selection of tasting and exhibits. Wines from all over the world though are highlighted and this show (which also goes by the name Vinoelite) is one of Europe's biggest wine exhibitions.

Ireland Spotlight - Exhibitions coming soon...

It is time again to give a round up of exhibitions across in nearby Ireland and there are some good shows to attend. Below 3 events worth buying tickets for or for planning to exhibit at:

The Autumn Gift & Home Fair is a popular annual event in the Irish events and exhibitions calendar. August sees the show held once again at the RDS Exhibition Centre between the 23rd and 26th. Applying online in advance means that you can get entrance tickets for free. Visit www.autumngiftfair.com/ for more details.

A month later the Irish Sustainable Building Show takes place over 3 days (17th-19th September) and despite the demise in construction work in the last 12 months, this event is still expected to be popular.

One of my favourite shows in Ireland is the SHOP exhibition (the Annual Retail, Food and Drink Show). The combination of the three shows in the same venue for retail, food and drink make this a fun event to attend. (28th to 30th September).

THE SUMMER FAIR 2009

For those of you interested in Fine Art and Antiques, the annual Olympia Summer Fair is an excellent 11 day event which takes place this year from the 4th June through to and including the 14th June.

This is a sizeable and quite important exhibition for the Arts and Antiques industry and the list of sponsors gives us a clue as to the popularity of this event: Sotheby's, Spectator and the International Herald Tribune are a few of the sponsors for this event.

A lot of exhibitions at the main exhibition venues often means a lot of business and networking. The Summer Fair takes it to another level though with millions of pounds worth of trading normally taking place, due to the length of this show and also the nature of the products. Expect to see exhibitors at this event to include:

• Baron Fine Art
• Gibson Antiques
• Nadin & Macintosh
• The Photographers' Gallery
• Gallery Yacou

The event is scheduled also to include a number of presentations and talks and Sotheby's will be central to the programme. You can learn more via the official site online at olympiaartsinternational.com

More Useful books: Management of Event Operations

I know we get a lot of readers from the U.S. reading this blog and one book which is available in the U.S. market (which can still be ordered from others countries of course via amazon.com) and which is full of great information is Management of Event Operations by Julia um et al.

This is an excellent paperwork with just under 300 pages which covers a mass of information. The book focuses on the management side of the events and exhibitions business, covering both the theory and practical elements of Event Operations. Normally available for approx USD$45 (approx £30) this book is written with USA in mind but it is still worth readers in Europe ordering the book.

If you do put an order in with amazon.com, another book you might find interested in is Successful Event Management by Anton Shone & Bryn Parry. This paperwork is another excellent read and although it covers many of the same areas, it does provide a different perspective and some fresh ideas.

Events Planning & Events Management - Books

How can I learn about Events Management and Events Planning are two questions I get asked often. There are in fact some excellent books available on amazon concerning these 2 areas

Events Management by Glenn Bowdin et al is available in paperback and offers 448 pages on every possible thing involved with organising an event, whether it be a full blown exhibition, to a local school fete. The book covers everything including the venue, transport, marketing, issues and much more.

Events Planning Made Easy by by Paulette Wolf et al is another excellent book and comes in hardback form with 240 pages. This is a U.S. based written book but it still has some excellent and straight forward ideas and information. This book covers a lot of information and the two books listed above, together cover a massive amount of information and cover pretty much everything you need to get started in events management from a theoretical point of view.

International Exhibitions Spotlight: World Retail Congress (May 2009)

As part of our international exhibitions Spotlight series, this time a look at one of the biggest events in the world events calendar for the b. The 'World Retail Congress' is an annual event and which this year takes place in Barcelona's Centro de Convenciones Exhibition Centre (May 2009).


This event brings together the worlds top retail companies, speakers, several exhibitors and the event includes a special awards ceremony for what is known as the 'World Retail Awards'. Over the last few years these awards have begun to gain a level of prestige and the event as a whole continues to gain popularity. The retail trade is forward thinking with the need to think about ordering 6-8 months ahead thus people are already planing for sales for when we eventually overcome the recession.


The presentations this year include talks on topics:

• Retail challenges for the future
• The Developing Markets
• Global sourcing
• Customer centric retailing

More information is available on the World Retail Congress site online. You can also find out about Exhibitions Stands Spain via Clip Ltd and useful information on flights to Barcelona is also available online.

London Wine Fair 2009

It is now less than one week until London Wine Fair 2009 with the show starting on Wednesday 12th May and running through to and including the 14th May. There are some excellent wine shows in the annual exhibitions calendar including Wine+ and the Toast Exhibitions. London Wine Fair though also attracts a good audience and some of the top people from the wine industry.

With more than a thousand exhibitors and twenty thousand wines, do not think that the title of 'London' means that this is a small and local show. London Wine Fair in fact attracts suppliers, buyers, makers, restaurateurs and people from around the world and this show is a truly international event.

The exhibitors list includes many well known companies and several new ones also. A sample of exhibitors who will be present include:

• Kanonkop Wine Estate
• The Real Rose Company
• DelFosse Vineyards
• Pearmund Cellars
• Judge Rock Vineyards

The show takes place on week days and during office hours so you can expect to see mostly people who work within the industry or who are connected to it in some form or another. The show this year also includes a special spirits area for the trade industry. You can find out more information about the event via the official event sites at londonwinefair.com

Exhibition resources and useful sites

There are a number of excellent resources online for those of you looking to work or learn more about Exhibitions and and Exhibition marketing. Below some links I have found to be useful:

The AEO (Association of Events Organisers) is one of the leading sites for event organisers and is a site which provides a wealth of information. If you are organising an exhibition or event, this is a good place to start.

Another excellent source for Exhibition advice and tips is the Exhibition Do's and Don'ts page by Clip Ltd. There are a number of ideas including 'How not to Exhibit' and 'Choosing your stand staff'.

Events Eye is one of the main sites for learning about events coming up and the beauty of this site is that you can search by location, date and theme.

Venues profile: The Riviera International Conventions Centre, Torquay

The next in our series of Exhibition and conference venues takes us down to the South West of England and Torquay. The venues in the South West such as the Westpoint Centre (Exeter) and the Plymouth Pavilions the tend to be smaller than the larger London, Birmingham and Manchester main venues. These small South West venues do provide a great location for local and regional exhibitions though and in the Riviera area, Torquay's Riviera International Conventions Centre is a handy venue.

The Riviera exhibition and conference centre as well as having the benefit of its location for exhibitors and exhibition organisers in the South West, is also able to offer:

• On site parking.
• A dedicated conference and exhibitions team.
• Wi-F and AV capability.
• 1750 square metres of exhibition space.

The Riviera conference and exhibition centre will not break any records for size or capacity but it offers convenience, a great location for enjoying the out of work time and is accessible from Exeter international airport. You can call the center direct for enquiries via Tel: 01803 206 306.

Exhibition Venues in Cardiff, Wales

There is no major exhibition centre in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. When one compares with the SECC in Glasgow, the RDS in Dublin, London's ExCel, Olympia and Earls Court venues, Cardiff is short of a major exhibition centre.

If you planning to organise an exhibition or trade event in Cardiff though there are certainly options. Venues though tend to be suitable for domestic rather than large international exhibitions, with several of the main hotels, the CIA and a few other venues.

The CIA (Cardiff International Arena) is the largest venue in Cardiff but this almost exclusively focuses on live music and entertainment. A few exhibitions are held at the CIA but they tend to very small, except for the beer and cider festival each year. The centre does not tend to promote themselves as an exhibition venue.

One fairly new venue and an option for holding an exhibition in Cardiff is the Wales Millennium Centre (not to be confused with the Millennium Stadium). This state of the art venue, situated by Cardiff Bay, offers venue hire. The space is relatively small though and can only accommodate a few hundred people.

If you have a venue which offers exhibition space in or near to Cardiff for large exhibitions let us know and we will include you in future blogs.

Internet World 2009 and the week ahead....

Internet World 2009 is now almost upon us, with the show starting this coming week from 28th - 30th April. Taking place at the Earls Court Centre, Internet World is expected to be as popular as ever despite the recent problems with the economy.

A lot of people involved with marketing have turned to online and digital marketing to market direct and reduce overall costs. Internet World is an exhibition which is a great forum for finding out about online opportunities for ones business.

If you are based in the South-West, one show certainly worth considering this weekend is the Select exhibition. If you are interested in arts and crafts, then why not pop down to the Assembly Rooms, Bath and see more than one hundred very interesting displays. A variety and unique display of gifts, collectables and artistic creations will be available for sale on 26th and 27th April: The show starts from 10am daily.

News update: In case you missed them, do not forget to read our two recent blogs on:
Online Marketing for your exhibition: Learn about marketing your exhibition.
Marketing your exhibition stand online: Learn about promoting your stand at an event.

Online Marketing for your Exhibition

As well as being an exhibitor at an exhibition, you may on the other hand be organising he exhibition itself. There are a number of ways you can use Online Marketing to help promote the Exhibition and below a few quick ideas.

1. It is worth considering using Google AdWords to promote the exhibition. The benefit of AdWords is that it offers immediate impact and results and with limited time when it comes to organising an exhibition, the time benefits of AdWords can be very handy. For those of you unsure about what AdWords is, these are the paid ads which you normally see at the top and on the right side of Google search results.

2. If you are designing a website or web pages on an existing website, to promote the exhibition, try and get the pages live as soon as possible. It takes a few months to get a site or pages visible in the search engines. If search engine results are not important because you have for example, a large mailing list then it is not such a problem.

3. As mentioned above, consider mailing lists as a way to target potential exhibitors and visitors to your exhibition. If budget allows, then mailing 10,000 people interested in baby products, if your exhibition is aimed at mothers, is a good example of the power of mailing lists.

More Online marketing and Exhibition tips coming soon......

Marketing and promoting your Exhibition Stand for an event

If you are planning to exhibit at an event, trade or public exhibition, have you considered the idea also of promoting your plans to exhibit? Even though the purpose of exhibiting is for you to market your business direct to the trade and the people, some people I have found do forget to also market the fact that they will be at the event.

There are a number of ways and things you can do to promote yourself and there are several things also to consider. If you promote yourself for example, remember to make people aware of:

• Your stand number (which will explain the aisle and spot)
• The dates
• The hall or rooms number (if applicable)

In terms of actually promoting your attendance at the event, if you have a web presence then this is an excellent place to start. Post a blog about your exhibit, add the information to your news page or headlines on the site, include the information on your newsletter and you can also consider a temporary promotion using your email signature.

If you often send out offline literature such as leaflets and newsletters then this is also another source for getting information out there. An even simpler technique is to spread word by telling suppliers, customers and anyone one you and your colleagues come into touch with in the lead up to the exhibition.

5 of the best Outdoors related Exhibitions for 2009

Having highlighted 5 of the best Sports, I.T, Travel and Food exhibitions for 2009.,this time a look at exhibitions associated with the great outdoors.

1. Chelsea Flower Show 2009 is the one of biggest flower shows in the UK and will be set in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, London - this year taking place May 19th to 23rd. Chelsea Flower Show attracts exhibitors from around the world and includes a number of marquees, show gardens and hundreds of exhibitors.

2. Play Fair 2009 is an event which focuses on the outdoors, play areas and facilities for children. In its second year, this show attracts visitors from Local Area authorities, schools, clubs and associations and also a number of other professionals involved with children. The Play Fair takes at Stoneleigh Park Nr Coventry on the 23rd and 24th June.

3. Southampton Boat Show (11th - 20th Sept 2009) is the biggest event in the UK for boating and is an impressive and large show which takes place over 10 days. Tour some of the worlds most impressive yachts.

4. Metro Ski and Snowboard Show (at the Olympia Exhibition Centre between the 21st and 25th November) is a fantastic show for those of you interested in winder sports and the great outdoors.

5. The Luxury Travel Fair is an exhibition perfect for those of you who love the great outdoors but like to enjoy it in luxury. This show covers first class travel and hospitality. The 5th - 8th November 2009 are the dates for the show.

Exhibitions and saving money in the recession

Exhibitions and the Recession: We are all aware of the recession and in one of or the other it has affected many of us or someone we know. With this in mind, marketing expert Catherine Gliddon of Clip Display has now published 2 new articles on this subject area.

1. Direct Marketing in Time of a Recession - 5 Benefits of Marketing Though Exhibitions is an article which looks at the reasons why Exhibition marketing can still be one of the cost effective and best ways to market in a recession.

2. Exhibitions and the Recession - Exhibitions Which Can Help You Save Money - is another interesting article looking at potential money saving exhibitions, i.e. exhibitions which might save you a lot of money in the long-term.

News Update: The main exhibition centre's are quite quiet over the Easter break, with everyone taking a few days of well earned rest. There are though some wonderful things to do over Easter and a list of local activities which are worth considering can be found on the English Heritage site.

Internet World UK 2009

April is quite an exciting time for Internet and Computing specialists with the annual Internet World UK exhibition always normally taking place at the end of this month. For the 2009 show, the 28th, 29th and 30th April are the dates for the event which takes place again at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre.

Internet World has been going for 17 years and this well established show now attracts over three hundred exhibitors and more than 12,000 visitors over the 3 days. This years show as always, will include a number of seminars related to the Internet. Seminars this year include:

• Online advertising in times of recession.
• The journey to optimised Digital marketing.
• Essentials of PCI DSS.
• Hands on SEO.

Free entry for the event is available if you book in advance online through the official site at internetworld.co.uk. There is also time to still be an exhibitor at the event.

UK Venues Guide: The Royal Bath & West Showground

When we think of UK exhibitions the main venues such as the the Excel Centre (London), NEC (Birmingham), SECC (Edinburgh) or King's Hall (Belfast) often come to mind. There are dozens of other smaller venues though across the UK and these include the:

• Barbican Centre
• Westpoint Centre, Exeter
• Aberdeen Exhibition Centre

The Royal Bath & West Showground is another venue which holds some large shows and offers venue hire for those looking to hold exhibitions, conferences and other types of events. Many of the events which take place at the Royal & West do tend to have a farming or outdoors feel but events are not limited to these areas.

The benefits of hiring the Royal Bath & West for an exhibition or other event includes the size of the grounds with 240 acres of space, a 1200 seated stand for people to watch displays and presentations, plenty of car parking space and also a dedicated events team who can work with you closely. You can find more detailed info about the Bath & West venue online.

London Golf Show 2009

There are a couple of very good Golf Exhibitions in the UK on the annual Exhibitions calender and one of the most popular in London Golf Show. This year the the ExCel exhibition centre in London will hold the event again, with the dates 1st - 3rd May 2009.

Even though this event is titled the 'London' golf show, there is still a large international presence at this exhibition and there are always exhibits from suppliers, courses, sporting holiday companies and clubs from the UK, Europe and further afield.

A key part of London Golf Show is also London Golf Conference which takes place on the 1st and 2nd May to run parallel with the exhibition. Ken Schofield CBE (ex-Exec. Director of the European Tour) will host the conference and there will be several golf related key note speeches made and the economy and the golf industry will be an important subject area included.

The exhibition includes the chance to handle and try out the very latest golf clubs and equipment and several industry experts will be present at the event. Tickets can be bought on the door or in advance. On the day adults pay £15 or £10 if bought in advance.