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About Birmingham
The UK's second largest city and with a long manufacturing heritage, Birmingham now boasts highly successful culture, business and leisure tourism and retail industries and the largest regional professional services sector. In the last 20 years Birmingham has experienced a period of momentous change with developments such as Brindleyplace and Bullring. Now home to one million citizens from many cultures, Birmingham's transformation into a city that is surprising, vibrant, appealing and exciting is nearing completion.
The renaissance city
Having undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years, Birmingham welcomes visitors with more pride than ever before. Vibrant and cosmopolitan, you will discover everything you could ever want of a city: world class culture, scintillating shopping, bubbling nightlife, great cuisine and rich heritage. A city of so many choices, Birmingham confidently embraces its status as Europe's meeting place.
Birmingham's success as a meeting place for business is beyond question, but then what is work without play? With over 500 restaurants, and beating 15 other cities to be awarded the title of Ethnic City 2004, in recognition of the quality and eclecticism of its culinary offer, Birmingham is a great city to eat out in. Both Simpsons and Jessica's restaurant boast Michelin stars, while the latter was voted AA Restaurant of the Year 2004. Of course as the birthplace of the balti, those who like it hot will be in heaven… but if you prefer to play it cool, you will delight in the city's many elegant café bars. Brindleyplace is home to a fine array of venues set by award winning canalside. There you will find Bank restaurant with its modern twist on the classics, while Café Ikon, set in the neo-gothic splendour of the Ikon Gallery, is one of the country's finest tapas restaurants.
The Mailbox is home to a similarly impressive collection of sophisticated venues, but if you like your night out a bit more brash and glitzy, you will want to head to Broad Street. What do you fancy? Scintillating salsa, tickling by a top comedian, or a cheesy pop to 80s classics. You'll find Broad Street easily enough - the festivity not only runs late into the night, but it is also home to the Birmingham Wheel; at almost 200ft high, the Wheel has stunning views across the city. As well as late night bars, there are plenty of clubs to choose from - if you know your house from your trance, the real discerning clubber will want to head down to Air (home to GodsKitchen); uber-cool nights can also be found at the Medicine Bar in the Custard Factory, while if you are more of a jazz, rhythm and blues person, the Jam House in the refined Georgian Square of St Paul's is an excellent night out.
Described as the country's new "cultural jewel" in the Rough Guide to Britain, whether you want to catch a concert at one of the world's finest concert halls, the Symphony Hall, see the spectacular Birmingham Royal Ballet perform at the Birmingham Hippodrome, or watch a critically acclaimed play at the Birmingham Rep, there are few city's to rival Birmingham in the quality and breadth of its cultural offer. Or if you have a moment to spare in the day, the Victorian magnificence of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery houses the world's finest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art.
If shopping's your bag , you'll be spoilt for choice. Despite the wealth of designer stores in the city, Birmingham may not quite yet be Europe's style capital, but outside London it is second to none. Indeed in the 2004 Experience Survey, Birmingham was ranked the second best destination in England after London's West End for the quality and range of its shopping offer. There are five department stores - Selfridges, Debenhams, Beatties, Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser - and a total of over 1000 shops in the city centre. The Fashion conscious will want to head straight for the Mailbox, one of the UK's elite designer shopping malls, while Bullring has welcomed a staggering 36.5 million visitors in its first year. Elsewhere the city's pedestrian friendly streets offer a delightful blend of refined arcades, stylish malls and friendly markets.
There is so much to do in Birmingham, and with more parkland and open spaces than any other UK city, you can have a great time simply doing nothing: sitting admiring the paved grandeur of Victoria Square with its cascading waters, or leisurely strolling along the miles of rejuvenated canals. For more information about what to do in Birmingham please visit www.beinbirmingham.com or phone our tourist information line on +44 (0)121 202 5099.
2013 testimonials
Robin Barker, Tourism Management Institute
I have been very impressed by both the depth and breadth of people attending from the industry - right from grass root supporters through to policy makers and a government minister.
Luke Pollard, Head of Public Affairs, ABTA.
It is really encouraging to see just how BoBI has developed over the past few years. This is our first time as a show sponsor and it is proving to be a great way to discuss key issues and meet our members face-to-face.
Kurt Janson, Policy Director, Tourism Alliance
BoBI is the ideal way for destination, accommodation and attraction providers to look at the market and reach out to tour operators, GTOs and international buyers.
Kara ter Morsche, Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership
BoBI has proved to be an extremely useful place to distribute our two day itinerary tour - they have been extremely well received.
Lynda Denton, Gretna Green Famous Blacksmith Shop
As well as renew contact with our more familiar customers we have started to develop some new relationships and sales leads.
Stephen Broughton, Mountain Goat Tours & Holidays
We have had an extremely productive day, helped by our great stand location and a show in Birmingham that is easy to get to. We've made lots of good quality contacts; there are no brochure grazers here. We will definitely be back again next year.
James Wright, The Castle & Gardens of Mey
We've already met with six new coach operators eager to include to us on their itineraries and there is still a whole day left to go. This is one show that is certainly living up to expectations.
Eileen Cox, Guild of Registered Tourist Guides
We are delighted to be hosting the Welcome Desk and Meetings Area for the fifth consecutive year. The best around, Blue Badge Tourist Guides and BoBI make the perfect combination!
Ronnie Berri, Scottish Blue Badge Guide
We've seen lots of people all serious about doing business - exactly what we want.
Maggie McLeod, Scottish Blue Badge Guide
The visitors have really appreciated our hands-on approach and the way we have been able to handle specific queries and point them in the right direction. Based on intimate local knowledge we have been able to spot links with other neighbouring destinations, we are able to offer more holistic customer solutions, promoting complete whole packages rather than individual attractions and destinations.
Miriam O'Connell, Industry Activation Manager, Tourism Ireland
BoBI is a fabulous opportunity for our partners from the island of Ireland to meet with both new and existing buyers from Great Britain and overseas.
Shelly Barratt, Destination North Wales
We're really pleased with the way the show is shaping up. It has been a great opportunity for us to introduce tour operators to the less familiar parts of north Wales like Flintshire and Denbighshire.
Tara Robinson, Eden Hotel Collection
The quality of visitors, in particular the number of overseas agents who are very difficult and expensive for us to reach, has been great. We have also been impressed by the all the after show activities like Warwick Castle and the Networking Dinner, these add-ons really help us to build relationships with new customers and contacts.
Katie Wilson, MAD Museum
This is our first time at BoBI and is proving to be the perfect way to promote our new museum and get our name out there. We've had lots of enquiries from a whole range of groups, from those representing children and schools right through to pensioners and the retired market.
Yasmin Estaitih, Encore Tickets
We've seen lots more international buyers than last year, my particular area. BoBI is good show for us.
Penny Dyer, Cadbury World
It has been steady all day with good quality visitors keen to build relationships and high level tour operators looking for multiple trips throughout the year.
Jonathan Godson, Condor Ferries
We've seen a good combination of new and existing customers all great quality and all with strong interest in the Channel Islands. Our destination products have also attracted a lot of interest. We will definitely consider re-booking for next year.
Beverley Davis, De Vere Venues
Participation at BoBI 2013 is proving both productive and beneficial. De Vere Venues has forged a name for itself with the travel trade through this show. Sponsorship of the hospitality area has been a great success; it has been busy the whole time - so far we have provided over 1,000 cups of coffee alone!
Adele Godden, Hospitality Line
There's been a steady footfall all throughout the day of really top class visitors.
Roy Church & Catherine Lewis, South West Wales - West is Best!
It's been very good .We've made lots of useful contacts with real quality visitors who are focussed and know what they want. Unlike so many other shows we've done there's been no need to grab people off the aisles as they pass by, instead they come to us.
Gregory Yeoman, The Tourism Society
Tourism Question Time was an important opportunity to demonstrate the importance of The Tourism Society to the overall industry not least because of the exceptional calibre of the speaker panel. The variety of exhibitors at this year's show has been very good and the Meeting Planner proved a particularly effective means of setting up meetings in advance.
Andrew Fraser, Distinctive Systems
BoBI has been a great PR exercise for Distinctive. As well as meeting a number of new prospects we have been able to bring people up-to-speed on some new developments.
Rachel Tooley, Jurys Inn
We've had some very good meetings with a variety of coach operators, wholesalers and travel agents. The online Meeting Planner worked well too.
Ann Lines, Hilton Worldwide
It has been right through with a strong combination of quality appointments and new leads.
Sue Shapiro, Shapiro Travel Resources, USA
BoBi is an extremely useful way to meet a large number of people in a short space of time. I've made some good contacts for my clients and spoken to all the right people which I'm sure as a result will lead to lots of business.
Jay Munro-Michell, ETOA
It's the variety of suppliers and regional operators that make this a unique mix. I look forward to being here again with our members in 2014.
Chris Robinson, Chris Robinson Associates, Canada
This has been a wonderful way to make connections, many of which have been completely unplanned, for stories for my radio show. It has also been very time efficient - I have managed to see a lot of people in a short space of time.
Jackie Taylor, Menzies Hotels
We have been kept very busy with interest shown in all 15 of our hotels around the UK. We've also managed to make reservations onsite which we don't always get the opportunity to do and the overall number of enquiries has more than paid for the stand.
Annette Gallagher, The Rezidor Hotel Group
A very busy and productive show for us, we have met with both new and existing clients. There have been definite dates from in-bound clients such as Germany and Denmark. We have also detected a distinct air of optimism and renewed confidence for 2014.
Martyn Stagg, Warner Leisure Hotels
This has been a great opportunity to showcase what Britain has to offer the travel trade. We have done some good business which has more than covered the cost of our participation at the event.
Mark Smith, Best Western Hotels
The show has been excellent with some cracking leads from new as well as existing customers. Our Dutch, Belgium and French teams have also had promising conversations with a number of outbound operators. We'll be back for 2014!
Paul Steele, Virgin Trains
It has been very productive; we've met lots of clients we wouldn't otherwise have met. It has opened up lots of potential new markets for us such as travel agents, leisure groups, Irish rail tours, Chinese and US tour operators some of which may become future Virgin Trains partners.
I have been very impressed by both the depth and breadth of people attending from the industry - right from grass root supporters through to policy makers and a government minister.
Luke Pollard, Head of Public Affairs, ABTA.
It is really encouraging to see just how BoBI has developed over the past few years. This is our first time as a show sponsor and it is proving to be a great way to discuss key issues and meet our members face-to-face.
Kurt Janson, Policy Director, Tourism Alliance
BoBI is the ideal way for destination, accommodation and attraction providers to look at the market and reach out to tour operators, GTOs and international buyers.
Kara ter Morsche, Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership
BoBI has proved to be an extremely useful place to distribute our two day itinerary tour - they have been extremely well received.
Lynda Denton, Gretna Green Famous Blacksmith Shop
As well as renew contact with our more familiar customers we have started to develop some new relationships and sales leads.
Stephen Broughton, Mountain Goat Tours & Holidays
We have had an extremely productive day, helped by our great stand location and a show in Birmingham that is easy to get to. We've made lots of good quality contacts; there are no brochure grazers here. We will definitely be back again next year.
James Wright, The Castle & Gardens of Mey
We've already met with six new coach operators eager to include to us on their itineraries and there is still a whole day left to go. This is one show that is certainly living up to expectations.
Eileen Cox, Guild of Registered Tourist Guides
We are delighted to be hosting the Welcome Desk and Meetings Area for the fifth consecutive year. The best around, Blue Badge Tourist Guides and BoBI make the perfect combination!
Ronnie Berri, Scottish Blue Badge Guide
We've seen lots of people all serious about doing business - exactly what we want.
Maggie McLeod, Scottish Blue Badge Guide
The visitors have really appreciated our hands-on approach and the way we have been able to handle specific queries and point them in the right direction. Based on intimate local knowledge we have been able to spot links with other neighbouring destinations, we are able to offer more holistic customer solutions, promoting complete whole packages rather than individual attractions and destinations.
Miriam O'Connell, Industry Activation Manager, Tourism Ireland
BoBI is a fabulous opportunity for our partners from the island of Ireland to meet with both new and existing buyers from Great Britain and overseas.
Shelly Barratt, Destination North Wales
We're really pleased with the way the show is shaping up. It has been a great opportunity for us to introduce tour operators to the less familiar parts of north Wales like Flintshire and Denbighshire.
Tara Robinson, Eden Hotel Collection
The quality of visitors, in particular the number of overseas agents who are very difficult and expensive for us to reach, has been great. We have also been impressed by the all the after show activities like Warwick Castle and the Networking Dinner, these add-ons really help us to build relationships with new customers and contacts.
Katie Wilson, MAD Museum
This is our first time at BoBI and is proving to be the perfect way to promote our new museum and get our name out there. We've had lots of enquiries from a whole range of groups, from those representing children and schools right through to pensioners and the retired market.
Yasmin Estaitih, Encore Tickets
We've seen lots more international buyers than last year, my particular area. BoBI is good show for us.
Penny Dyer, Cadbury World
It has been steady all day with good quality visitors keen to build relationships and high level tour operators looking for multiple trips throughout the year.
Jonathan Godson, Condor Ferries
We've seen a good combination of new and existing customers all great quality and all with strong interest in the Channel Islands. Our destination products have also attracted a lot of interest. We will definitely consider re-booking for next year.
Beverley Davis, De Vere Venues
Participation at BoBI 2013 is proving both productive and beneficial. De Vere Venues has forged a name for itself with the travel trade through this show. Sponsorship of the hospitality area has been a great success; it has been busy the whole time - so far we have provided over 1,000 cups of coffee alone!
Adele Godden, Hospitality Line
There's been a steady footfall all throughout the day of really top class visitors.
Roy Church & Catherine Lewis, South West Wales - West is Best!
It's been very good .We've made lots of useful contacts with real quality visitors who are focussed and know what they want. Unlike so many other shows we've done there's been no need to grab people off the aisles as they pass by, instead they come to us.
Gregory Yeoman, The Tourism Society
Tourism Question Time was an important opportunity to demonstrate the importance of The Tourism Society to the overall industry not least because of the exceptional calibre of the speaker panel. The variety of exhibitors at this year's show has been very good and the Meeting Planner proved a particularly effective means of setting up meetings in advance.
Andrew Fraser, Distinctive Systems
BoBI has been a great PR exercise for Distinctive. As well as meeting a number of new prospects we have been able to bring people up-to-speed on some new developments.
Rachel Tooley, Jurys Inn
We've had some very good meetings with a variety of coach operators, wholesalers and travel agents. The online Meeting Planner worked well too.
Ann Lines, Hilton Worldwide
It has been right through with a strong combination of quality appointments and new leads.
Sue Shapiro, Shapiro Travel Resources, USA
BoBi is an extremely useful way to meet a large number of people in a short space of time. I've made some good contacts for my clients and spoken to all the right people which I'm sure as a result will lead to lots of business.
Jay Munro-Michell, ETOA
It's the variety of suppliers and regional operators that make this a unique mix. I look forward to being here again with our members in 2014.
Chris Robinson, Chris Robinson Associates, Canada
This has been a wonderful way to make connections, many of which have been completely unplanned, for stories for my radio show. It has also been very time efficient - I have managed to see a lot of people in a short space of time.
Jackie Taylor, Menzies Hotels
We have been kept very busy with interest shown in all 15 of our hotels around the UK. We've also managed to make reservations onsite which we don't always get the opportunity to do and the overall number of enquiries has more than paid for the stand.
Annette Gallagher, The Rezidor Hotel Group
A very busy and productive show for us, we have met with both new and existing clients. There have been definite dates from in-bound clients such as Germany and Denmark. We have also detected a distinct air of optimism and renewed confidence for 2014.
Martyn Stagg, Warner Leisure Hotels
This has been a great opportunity to showcase what Britain has to offer the travel trade. We have done some good business which has more than covered the cost of our participation at the event.
Mark Smith, Best Western Hotels
The show has been excellent with some cracking leads from new as well as existing customers. Our Dutch, Belgium and French teams have also had promising conversations with a number of outbound operators. We'll be back for 2014!
Paul Steele, Virgin Trains
It has been very productive; we've met lots of clients we wouldn't otherwise have met. It has opened up lots of potential new markets for us such as travel agents, leisure groups, Irish rail tours, Chinese and US tour operators some of which may become future Virgin Trains partners.
General Information Links:
Services at the NEC, Travel and Accommodation, About Birmingham, Contact Us
Services at the NEC, Travel and Accommodation, About Birmingham, Contact Us
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