Granted city status in 2002 to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, the county borough of Newport is increasingly gaining attention from meeting planners as an ‘all-round’ destination for conferences, meetings and events.
An extremely versatile region, Newport is able to cater to every event organiser’s needs having a venue to suit every occasion, although it is also this diversity which makes the county a firm favourite with conference delegates.
Situated in South Wales amongst areas of incomparable beauty including the Wye Valley, Brecon Beacons, Vale of Usk, Forest of Dean and of course boasting an incredible coastline, the county is an idyllic haven for both land and water-based teambuilding events and corporate activities. City, coast and country settings offer the broadest range of meeting venues possible within a dramatically beautiful location sure to inspire.
Newport itself provides an urban landscape equally as impressive as the natural surroundings with a host of world-class venues offering formidable conference, exhibition and meeting spaces whether historic, modern, academic or sporting venues. Blending old and new, modernity with heritage, rural, urban and coastal locations, Newport really does have it all!
Another reason for Newport’s increasing popularity as a conference destination is its transport links, being easy and convenient to access from the motorway network, via excellent rail links and flights into either Cardiff or Bristol airports.
Whether hosting large hospitality events, vast conferences or intimate corporate retreats and strategy meetings, Newport can offer the perfect venue. An exceptional multi-purpose venue, the Newport Centre is able to accommodate the largest and smallest of delegate groups boasting capacity for 2,024 delegates in the main hall for large conferences, exhibitions and corporate events as well as providing smaller suites and rooms for more intimate meetings and training seminars. The Welsh are known for their sporting heritage and so it is no wonder there are several sporting venues able to offer outstanding conferencing facilities also. For example, Newport International Sports Village is a unique and unusual venue offering a good selection of meeting and training rooms, suites and exhibition space with capacity for 500 delegates whilst alternatives include Newport RFC, the Pillgwenlly Millennium Centre and Tredegar Park Golf Club, ideal for combining conferences with corporate golf events. Another unusual venue option is the Newport Wetlands where a well-equipped training centre provides meeting rooms in a tranquil nature reserve, whereas The Riverfront is a thriving cultural venue providing flexible meeting spaces for up to 498 delegates. Academic venue the University of Wales caters for teambuilding events and corporate activities as well as providing excellent conference and banqueting facilities whilst historic venues such as Tredegar House and Caldicot Castle offer memorable, majestic backdrops for corporate events, banquets, secluded meetings and weddings alike. Being a popular tourist region there are several superb hotels such as the Hilton Newport, country house hotel Best Western Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel & Spa and the imposing Celtic Manor Resort, which alone sits within 1,400 acres of glorious grounds and comprises a conference centre, exhibition hall, 31 meeting rooms, 3 championship golf courses, onsite teambuilding activities and capacity for 1,500 delegates! Major hotel groups represented within the county of Newport include Best Western, Goodnight Inns, Hampton by Hilton, Holiday Inn and Premier Inn.