Member Article

ConferenceLeeds helps secure third healthcare conference for city

ConferenceLeeds has announced the third in a string of healthcare conference wins, with The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) annual general meeting taking place in Leeds on the 20th and 21st, January 2017 at The Marriott. ConferenceLeeds worked closely with one of its industry leading conference ambassadors from Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) and the University of Leeds to bring the prestigious conference to the city.

The event is held each year at different locations around the world, having previously been held in Rome, Madrid and Houston, but hasn’t been to the UK since Bath in 2007. The conference is expected to bring approximately 120 delegates to the city, all of which are international experts in the field of rheumatology.

Jennifer Young, Head of ConferenceLeeds, commented: “With our ambition and determination to build our portfolio of conference city ambassadors, we’re proud to have worked hand-in-hand with our ambassador in order to secure such a prestigious conference. The healthcare industry is one of our key sector strengths in Leeds, which makes this a strong strategic win for us as a conferencing city. For ASAS2017 to have chosen Leeds highlights the vast amount of expertise that exists in the healthcare industry here, not just in academia, but in varying positions throughout the city. Following strong results for business tourism in Leeds in recent years, we’re working hard to find more conference city ambassadors to support Leeds’ growth.”

After five years of pitching for the conference to come to Leeds, Helena Marzo-Ortega at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) and the University of Leeds approached ConferenceLeeds as part of its conference ambassador programme for support in the bidding process, Helena commented: “As a healthcare professional in Leeds, I am well aware of the amazing amount of expertise that exists in the health sector here. Ankylosing spondylitis and other spondyloartritis are chronic conditions that affect young people causing disability and leading to enormous costs for the affected individuals and the society. Not only were these particular set of diseases defined by experts working at the University of Leeds back in the mid seventies, but the University currently has the biggest panel of experts in ankylosing spondylitis and other spondyloarthritis in the UK and is a world known centre of excellence in rheumatology, which is why I knew Leeds was one of the best places in the world for this conference to be held. The support from ConferenceLeeds through its conference ambassador programme and the collaborative approach between key stakeholders has played an integral role in bringing ASAS2017 to Leeds. By working with ConferenceLeeds I’ve been able to connect with the right people and tap into the network of healthcare professionals that exist here.”

For more information, visit www.conference-leeds.com follow ConferenceLeeds on Twitter @conferenceleeds, or call the team to discuss your conference requirements on 0113 378 1183.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Savage .