Coventry and Warwickshire venues strike balance of affordability and value as average DDR revealed

A new survey has revealed the average rate for conference and meeting venues in Coventry and Warwickshire, highlighting how the region strikes a balance of affordability and value.

Conference Coventry and Warwickshire surveyed 21 of the leading venues from across the region and the average day delegate rate (DDR) was found to be £43 plus VAT per person.

The average was calculated using the lowest price provided by each venue, with rates ranging from £15 to £60. The survey also highlighted how rates can vary depending on demand and time of year, with seasonality resulting in a £15 fluctuation in some cases.

BVA BDRC released its VenueVerdict research in 2023 and highlighted that by the end of 2022 day delegate rates had reached £48.59 in the north west, £83.67 in London and £53.96 across the UK. While data from the first quarter of 2023 from the Event Economy Tracker by The Business of Events showed price per head had risen 14.7 per cent.

Conference Coventry and Warwickshire, the region’s convention bureau, reached out to a range of traditional conference centres, hotels, heritage venues and cultural attractions, to ensure the survey captured the full spectrum of the region’s conference and meetings sector.

The venues to engage in the survey included British Motor Museum, Coombe Abbey Hotel, St Mary’s Guildhall, Stockton House, Holiday Inn Kenilworth, Coventry Conferences, Ashorne Hill, Woodland Grange, Billesley Manor Hotel & Spa and Ramada Coventry.

Coventry Building Society Arena, Warwick Conferences, Nailcote Hall, The Barn at Berryfields, Citrus Hotel Coventry, Heart of England Conference and Events Centre, Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry Transport Museum, MTC Events and The Stratford Park Hotel & Golf Club also participated.

Conference Coventry and Warwickshire is part of destination management organisation Destination Coventry.

Coventry and Warwickshire in any one day can host meetings for up to 35,000 delegates.

Claire England, Senior Destination Manager at Destination Coventry, said: “We have an incredibly diverse range of venues in Coventry and Warwickshire, and we have always prided ourselves on hosting high-quality events which deliver great value.

“Our latest survey highlights the options available to conference and meeting organisers seeking to host an event in Coventry and Warwickshire, and how we continue to be one of the most affordable destinations in the UK.

“Events are operating on finer margins than ever before and competitive pricing is essential to ensure inward investment to the region.

“We also benefit from excellent transport links to London, Birmingham and international destinations with Birmingham Airport on our doorstep.

“The events industry has a part to play in the wider levelling up programme, and one way it can boost economic wealth regionally is by bringing major events out of the capital and to new destinations.

“Our local supply chain is a major strength and brings a wealth of benefits in terms of providing quality, affordability and high value for the conference, meetings and events industry, helping venues to be more flexible and cater for varying budgets and sizes.”