The tourism bodies in the East of England have collaborated to produce a FREE morning conference impressing the importance of adopting a positive approach to tourism.

The conference will take place at the Radisson SAS Hotel at Stansted Airport, Essex on Wednesday, 25 March 2009 at 9.30am - 2.30pm.

It is anticipated that every part of the tourism industry will be affected by the economic downturn and that constraints will be placed on the availability of credit and the declining value of sterling will also impact. These developments could present both problems and opportunities to the region's tourism sector.

This free event will identify a range of practical ways to develop new business and increase revenue. Guidance on how to access further sources of help and advice from the region's business support network will also be available.

Following an introduction and welcome from Keith Brown, East of England Tourism's Chief Executive and Richard Ellis, Chairman of EEDA - the keynote speaker will be BBC Business Correspondent Nils Blythe, best known from Radio 4's Today and PM and BBC2's The Money Programme. Nils also launched Business Today on the BBC News Channel, chairing a daily discussion of the day's business news and interviewing 'movers and shakers' including Gordon Brown, Bill Gates, George Soros, Jean-Claude Trichet and Sir Richard Branson.

The conference will then focus on an analysis of current economic trends in the tourism sector, offering first thoughts on the opportunities and threats faced by the sector in this region. Bernard Donoghue from VisitBritain will be joining the group for this session.

A panel of experts will speak on topics such as customer service, quality, distribution and pricing and there will be a Q&A session. The event will conclude with a networking buffet lunch, during which delegates will also have an opportunity to meet representatives of other business support providers.

To book your free place please click here