Paul Bartlett has stepped into the senior role after six years with the award-winning organisation, which last year hosted more than 17,000 events.

All the surplus generated by Warwick Conferences, which has more than 100 meeting spaces and 458 on-site bedrooms, is reinvested into teaching, learning and research at the University of Warwick, which is ranked in the top 10 nationally and at number one in the West Midlands.

Paul became head of sales for Warwick Conferences in June 2018, and takes over the senior role at a vital time in the region’s visitor economy.

He said:

These are very exciting times for Warwick Conferences and for Coventry, Warwickshire, the West Midlands and our wider region. Coventry being UK City of Culture in 2021 and the region playing host to the Commonwealth Games means the international focus will be on our part of the world like never before and it is vital that we maximise that spotlight.

“We have also added outdoor meeting spaces and other initiatives – such as links with our new Sports and Wellness Hub – which other venues just cannot offer and therefore give us unique selling points.

“Going forward we are looking to strengthen partnerships with other organisations so we can add something extra which will allow us to build our weekend custom as well as add to the range of attractions for mid-week business.

“I know the business very well across the board and that will be a great help in further strengthening relationships both across the region and nationally but also with the wider university community.

“We have a very good team in place at Warwick Conferences who work very closely with clients to understand their objectives and that is regularly cited as a huge differentiator by our clients with whom we have an 80 per cent retention rate.

“I am confident we will be able to continue to grow the business and ultimately benefit the university.”

Bartlett started his career in Warwickshire and has worked in Oxford, London and Australia.