Center Parcs’ conference and event bookings exceeding 2019 figures.
- Enquiries up 10%
- Increase in overnight residential stays up 21%
- 9 in 10 bookings incorporating outdoors team building and leisure activities
- Relaunch in September comes following £2.5m investment in enhanced offering
Since announcing the reawakening of its conference and events space in June 2022, Center Parcs, which takes pride in offering nature-rich escapes, has experienced a 10% increase in enquiries compared to the same period in 2019.
Not only are booking enquiries up, but this stems solely from two of its most accessible and sought-after destinations in the UK, Woburn Forest and Sherwood Forest, as Center Parcs consolidated its offering from four conference and events destinations to these two hero sites in 2022, as part of its strategic relaunch.
Set within hundreds of acres of unique woodland, Center Parcs’offering of a natural, spacious, forest environment has been in high demand since relaunching. Since welcoming bookings this summer, 90% of confirmed events will utilise its leisure activities, as event bookers and businesses strive to deliver conferences, meetings and away days which offer attendees and colleagues the chance to reconnect and recharge, with fun and engaging activities to suit all abilities and interests.
Specialising in immersive outdoor-focused away days and overnight stays for groups of 60 to 200 people, Center Parcs has also seen confirmed bookings for residential stays increase more than 20% compared to 2019 (49%), as 70% of all bookings include stays in its unique accommodation offering, ranging from one-bedroom self-catered apartments and spacious Executive Lodges, through to luxurious Treehouses.
Big household-named brands are also making enquiries for company events at both Sherwood Forest and Woburn Forest, from London-based estate agents, global sportswear brands and internet search engines, to leading charities and British coffeehouse chains, all of which are seeking to escape the everyday and embrace nature.
Taking bookings for autumn 2022 onwards, the reopening of both locations comes after a period of closure due to the pandemic, and an extensive £2.5m investment in upgrading and enhancing the facilities at Woburn Forest.
Need to know:
Woburn Forest is well connected to central London and the south east of England; with direct trains running from London St Pancras (International) to Flitwick train station, just three miles away; delegates can be in the heart of the forest within an hour.
The Venue at Woburn Forest, at 811 sq m, sits within 365 acres of woodland and can accommodate up to 600 delegates. With floor to ceiling glass windows and doors along the full length of the conference space and access out onto the woodland terrace, The Venue is flooded with natural daylight, perfectly transitioning between the indoors and the forest beyond.
Benefitting from sliding walls, The Venue can be a spacious pillar-free room for large events or divided into eight individual rooms, and two additional spaces, accommodating between 18 to 100 delegates, or a combination of larger conference spaces with break out rooms for refreshment breaks and lunch.
Sherwood Forest, located in central England, benefits from access to major network routes, including the A1 and M1. Those travelling from London can be in the forest in under two hours, with direct trains from Kings Cross into Newark Northgate train station, just 16 miles away.
Nestled in 400 acres of forest, The Venue, at 864 sq m, comprises five suites which can be used individually or as one large, flexible space and can accommodate up to 600 delegates theatre style and 500 in gala, with smaller rooms offering capacity for between 16 to 280 delegates each. The versatile spaces, surrounded by leafy walkways, offer great views overlooking the forest and lake.
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Notes to Editors:
Julia Green, Sales & Commercial Manager at Center Parcs UK, is available for interview which Rooster will coordinate.
For further press information, please contact:
Arabella Halfhide | Tiffany Huret | Francesca Colombo
Rooster PR
T: +44 (0)20 3440 8930
E: [email protected]
About Center Parcs’ conference and events offering:
Center Parcs Conference and Events offers a unique, nature-rich escape to suit the needs of all types of corporate events, including conferences, team building and away days, product launches and galas.
Its two high-quality dedicated conference centres are located at two of its sought-after short break destinations in the UK: Woburn Forest in Bedfordshire and Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire.
Each set within hundreds of acres of woodland, Center Parcs is the ideal place for colleagues to reconnect and recharge.
For more information visit: https://events.centerparcs.co.uk/
