For the next instalment of our ‘Hear from the experts’ series, the team from Meet in Nottingham sat down with Alyson Bentley, Business Development Manager at QHotels Collection, to find out more about the wonderful corporate spaces available to hire at Nottingham Belfry and Belton Woods Hotel, Spa and Golf resort.
How long have you been in the role and what does your typical day look like?
“I was lucky to have been part of the pre-opening team for the Nottingham Belfry back in November 2005 followed by Director of Sales and Cluster DOS for both hotels for over 15 years before moving into my current role. I think it’s safe to say, I know both hotels inside and out.
No two days are the same. Some days I can be conducting site visits (one of my favourite parts of the job) or the next, I can be up and down the country visiting and presenting our hotels to the agents we look after – it’s a very varied role. The relationships we have with our clients/agents are very special to me and I love working with them”.
What’s the maximum capacity for an event or conference at Belton Woods and Nottingham Belfry?
“Both hotels have fabulous conference space – Nottingham Belfry can accommodate up to 700 delegates theatre style or 500 for banqueting. The Nottingham Belfry offers numerous accessible bedrooms, making it an ideal venue for hosting events with guests who have additional mobility requirements. We’ve had the pleasure of accommodating the Wheelchair Tennis Association several times, and we take pride in our facilities that support accessible events and guests.
Belton Woods can accommodate 270 theatre style and 200 banqueting; it also benefits from lots of outdoor space for team building”.
What are the sustainability and environmental benefits of holding a conference or event at Belton Woods and Nottingham Belfry?
“We are members of Green Tourism and are currently working towards accreditation with them. We have a sustainability policy in place and a nominated champion in each of our hotels. Both hotels are easily accessible by public transport.
The Nottingham Belfry offers numerous accessible bedrooms, making it an ideal venue for hosting events with guests who have additional mobility requirements. We’ve had the pleasure of accommodating the Wheelchair Tennis Association several times, and we take pride in our facilities that support accessible events and guests”.
Has Belton Woods or Nottingham Belfry won any awards or accreditations in previous years?
“Yes! Both hotels have received accreditations from BVA BDRC in enquiry handling and operational delivery of events; something we are very proud of. Most recently, The Nottingham Belfry has also achieved the AIM Secure accreditation by the Meetings Industry Association. This means that the venue is now regarded amongst those who deliver first-class service, excellent facilities, and a total commitment to upholding legal compliance and health and hygiene protocols”.
What does the rest of 2024 look like for Belton Woods and Nottingham Belfry, and do you have any event predictions?
“We are still experiencing short lead business – an overhang from covid but lead times are starting to get longer.
There also appears to be a new trend of Bleisure stays – where customers have a meeting with us but tag on staying overnight or booking a round of golf or spa-treatment and we are well set up for this at both Nottingham Belfry and Belton Woods”.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know about the venues or the teams working there?
“Our teams are extremely dedicated to helping our clients and there is not much we cannot do at Nottingham Belfry or Belton Woods – we have ‘spaces filled with possibilities’ – and we’d love to welcome you soon.
We also currently have a discount happening at Belton Woods where we’re offering day delegate rate at £140 and 24 – hour rate at £40 for any corporate meetings taking place in June; so, if you were considering booking somewhere for your conference or event this summer, Belton Woods is the perfect place”!
If you would like to enquire about booking Belton Woods or Nottingham Belfry for your next corporate event, then get in touch with the Meet in Nottingham events team to discuss your requirements. Contact us by emailing conferences@visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk or by calling 0115 962 8320.
Posted on 20 May 2024
