In a move designed to broaden the scope of industry representation for the increasingly important UK Events industry, the Business Tourism Partnership announced its name change today during British Tourism Week, at the Meetings Industry Association Annual Conference, to the Business Visits and Events Partnership.

The Partnership is also targeting for more membership of trade associations and government agencies that represent cultural, sporting and leisure events, in addition to its solid base of present members from the conference and meetings, exhibitions and trade fairs, outdoor events, incentive travel, and corporate hospitality sectors.

The key objective of the Business Visits and Events Partnership will be to lead the way in supporting a competitive, high quality and more profitable business visits and events sector in Britain. The Partnership seeks to provide a cohesive industry voice and will work with VisitBritain and other government departments and agencies to influence and develop policies and practices favourable to the growth of tourism and trade from business visits and events.

The Partnership will continue to provide a forum for Members to agree key issues and to act as a central focus for lobbying and ensuring that policymakers and key influencers are better informed of the benefits of the sector.

Current priorities include the recently announced Ministerial bid support programme; changes to business visas and the introduction of special event visas; ensuring the potential from the 2012 London Olympics is realised; seeking adequate government support for VisitBritain; the development of sector quality, skills and qualifications; a reduction in the burden of taxation and regulation, including better co-ordinated National guidelines for health and safety