VisitBrighton, the marketing team responsible for promoting Brighton as a business and tourism centre, is turning to leading members of its academic, medical and professional communities as it attempts to raise the numbers of national and international association conferences being held in the city. It will be using these figures as part of its Ambassadors Programme to draw an extra £2 million worth of conference and event business into Brighton for 2006-7.

“With over £200 million of new developments, Brighton is recognised nationally and internationally as one of the UK's leading conference destinations,” said VisitBrighton’s client services manager Julia Gallagher. “The city is a seat of learning, of pioneering research and business, so we have some of the world’s finest on our doorstep. It is common sense to encourage these people to bring their peers to our city.”

VisitBrighton will help its Ambassadors by providing impartial advice on all aspects of organising conferences; from bid documentation preparation and presentation, venue sourcing, proposals for tours and social programmes, to site inspection hosting, accommodation and delegate information.

The programme also offers members access to exclusive ambassador events in and around Brighton to network, gain an insight into what's new in the city and to meet other Brighton Ambassadors in order to share best practice.