THE Lord Mayor of York, Coun Irene Waudby, was given a privileged preview of the latest conference guide to the city which is designed to wow 10,000 visitors at the huge three-day Confex exhibition opening at Earls Court in London today.

The 2002 conference guide was launched at the exhibition by Laura Savage, conference marketing executive for York Tourism Bureau, but not before she had received the nod from the Lord Mayor whose official residence, the Mansion House, stands in front of York Guildhall, appearing in the publication for the first time.

The Guildhall alongside other major conference centres in the city such as the National Railway Museum. JORVIK and the Bar Convent, as well as other newcomers like City Screen, the Quality Hotel and Bishopthorpe Palace.

Laura said: "We have completely revamped the guide this year, reflecting the city's new branding."

The city's tourism bureau offers a conference booking service through its conference desk which since last June has handled 283 conference inquiries and confirmed 96 conferences and events, attracting an estimated £300,000 into the city.

Where business tourism accounts for 23 per cent of all tourism in the UK, in York the city's conference business represents 33 per cent of all tourism receipts, generating about £75 million per year.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said: "Our presence at Confex is crucial to ensure that we are recognised as one of the country's leading business travel destinations alongside Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham.

"The new Conference Guide has been given a new 'trendy' feel to it, incorporating images of York's new bars and riverside cafes in keeping with our new branding."

Updated: 11:28 Tuesday, February 19, 2002