The team at the International Convention Centre Wales at Celtic Manor, Newport, will be aiming to win business for the country at a new national events showcase in London this week.

Organised by VisitBritain, 'MeetGB' at Hilton London Bankside on April 19 and 20 April will be a unique opportunity for ICC Wales to present its state-of-the-art facilities to an elite group of 120 meetings and events planners from all over the world.

Ahead of the event, around a dozen international business event planners will visit South Wales for a familiarisation tour to experience for themselves the wide range of venues, hotels and event services in the area, including both ICC Wales and the Celtic Manor Resort. The tour is one of eleven educational visits taking place across the UK.

ICC Wales chief executive Ian Edwards said: “We are delighted to be championing Wales at Meet GB and to have this opportunity to meet with so many influential conference and events buyers from Europe and North America. We look forward to sharing with this prestigious international market the latest developments at ICC Wales, and establishing new leads to bring more international events to our part of the world.”

The South Wales familiarisation trip will also include Llechwen Hall Hotel, Penderyn Distillery, Llanerch Vineyard, The Vale Resort, Hensol Castle, The Exchange Hotel Cardiff Bay, Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff Bay, Hilton Hotel Cardiff, Hotel Indigo and Marco Pierre White Steakhouse bar and grill, Cardiff Castle, The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Chepstow Racecourse and Marriott St Pierre, Chepstow.

An £83.7m joint venture between Celtic Manor and Welsh Government, ICC Wales will accommodate 5,000 delegates and attract the largest international events to Wales. The venue will include a 4,000sqm pillar-free main hall, a 1,500-seated auditorium, 12 flexible meeting rooms, a double-height glass atrium and a 2,500sqm outdoor plaza.