Chester & Cheshire has benefited from a massive �85million investment in its conference and events product in 2009 according to a membership survey from Visit Chester & Cheshire�s business tourism team.

The investment has been focused on the city of Chester and the surrounding Cheshire area, consisting of extensive venue renovations and refurbishments, including the addition of 179 new bedrooms and 18 state of the art meeting rooms.

The survey also reveals nearly �60million of planned investment on refurbishment due to take place in 2010, which would add a further 86 bedrooms, three restaurants and eight spa treatment rooms to the region.

Fiona Brown, Business Tourism Account Manager at Visit Chester & Cheshire comments: �The multi-million pound investment underlines our commitment to meetings, conferences and events and how, as a destination, we are working to attract business tourism by consistently improving delegate facilities. As a result of this investment we expect to see an increase in numbers of those coming to the destination over the next few years�.

�The figures also reveal a 25% increase in conversion rates from our members based on research we carried out in 2007. It really is an exciting time for business tourism in the region and we look forward to welcoming more and more events to our diverse destination� Fiona adds.

In particular venues such as the Queen Hotel in Chester and Doubletree by Hilton were among those with large developments and extensions during 2009, with Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Zoo and Mere Golf & Country Club among those with large scale plans commencing in 2010.

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Notes to Editors:

� The experienced Visit Chester & Cheshire business tourism team offer expert advice and guidance to conference bookers looking to plan any type of event or meeting. With an unrivalled and unbiased source of information, the team provide advice on venues, value for money and logistics.

� Able to accommodate from two to 600 delegates, Chester and Cheshire are home to an abundance of stylish and memorable business tourism venues from the contemporary to the traditional.

� Centrally located within the UK, Chester and Cheshire is conveniently served by a choice of rail and road routes, easy access to two international airports and is only two hours from London Euston to Chester via the new high speed rail service.

� For further information, please on to: www.meetincheshireandcheshire.com

For more information, images or to arrange an interview please contact: Philippa Martin at Davies Tanner Email: philippa.martin@daviestanner.co.uk Tel: 01892 619100