A NEW report has suggested that there are signs of recovery for the conference and events industry in York.

The annual UK Events Markets Trends Survey (UKEMTS), compiled by Eventia, which collates data supplied by venues across the country, showed that York bucked the national trend in 2010.

York hosted an estimated 20,900 business events in 2010, which accounted for a spend of £173.1 million in the local economy.

The figure was still down from its peak in 2008, when York business tourism generated £203 million, but a spokeswoman for York & Scarborough Conferences said these figures showed it was coming back.

York conference delegates were also much more likely to stay overnight than national or regional delegates with an average 1.7 day duration for a meeting or event.

Laura Freer, business tourism marketing manager for York & Scarborough Conferences, said York's investment in the sector was driving new business.

She said: “While we are still working in challenging times, the recent survey results are a great boost for our venues who work extremely hard to deliver fantastic events.

“We have been very fortunate in York to have seen a number of investments and developments, with the Barbican re-opening and continuing investment in new hotel and conference facilities in the city. These developments, along with the existing quality stock of venues we have, continue to position York on the map as a leading conference destination.”

York's average day delegate rate averaged £39, higher than the regional average of £34.

The city also attracted 32 per cent of its business from outside the Yorkshire region, compared to a national average of 25 per cent of businesses attracting events from outside their region.

Yorkshire as a whole hosted an average of 450 events per venue, proving higher than the national average at just 371 events. The figure represents a five per cent increase in Yorkshire from the 2009 figures compared to a two per cent decrease nationally.

Laura Freer said: "The survey also outlines that the venues in York have a positive outlook on the future, expecting business levels to increase in 2011. We hope this is a trend that will continue way into 2012."