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Jun 2024
Harrogate Convention Centre reports ‘significant growth’ — but keeps figures secret
Harrogate Convention Centre has reported “significant growth” — but declined to reveal the actual figures.
The conferences and events venue issued a press release last week that said lettings income for the year ending March 2024 was up 19% on the previous year and was now at its highest level since 2014.
It said lettings from conferences increased 27% and surpassed pre-covid levels by 17%. Lettings from trade exhibitions, such as Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair, Bridal Week Harrogate and the upcoming Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival increased 24% to surpass pre-covid levels by 22%, it added.
The press release said this was “the second year of significant growth in a row” and forecast “an even stronger performance” next year.
It added:
The continued growth is a result of a new sales strategy that supports the full utilisation of conference and exhibitions spaces by enabling the venue to accommodate multiple events in different parts of the building complex.
Various initiatives implemented in recent years have also helped drive client satisfaction and attract new events. These include cosmetic improvements to the venue, sustainability and accessibility initiatives, a more targeted sales approach and the incorporation of the catering team under the in-house brand Matcham’s.
Harrogate Convention Centre's auditorium
However, the press release did not reveal any actual income figures, or reveal whether the traditionally loss-making venue was now recording a profit. The Stray Ferret was told the figures were “commercially sensitive”.
We questioned why the public was being kept in the dark at a time when a major decision on the conference centre’s future looms.
North Yorkshire Council, which awarded the convention centre a £2.7 million subsidy last year, is currently paying consultants 31ten to consider what to do with the venue. The options include selling it and finding alternative uses for parts of the site.
Almost £2 million was previously spent on consultants for plans to refurbish the venue that have since been scrapped.
Gary Fielding, the council’s corporate director of resources, said:
Harrogate Convention Centre is part of North Yorkshire Council and we are not obliged to keep separate accounts in the same way as would be the case for a separate company.
We do, however, maintain financial information to monitor performance but we do retain certain details confidentially for commercial reasons. For instance, the centre often shares performance percentages but avoids disclosing exact income or occupancy figures to protect our financial interests.
We do recognise the importance of assuring the public on the use of taxpayers’ money.
That is why we include key financial details relating to the convention centre’s financial performance in quarterly revenue budget monitoring reports, which are publicly available.
Public purse
This is the second time recently that the council has declined to reveal financial details about the convention centre.
Last month it refused to say how many days a year the 2,000-seat auditorium was booked after a source claimed it was under-used.
It told the Stray Ferret "releasing information about occupancy levels would likely damage the council's ability to negotiate the rate for the space and therefore negatively impact the public purse".
Paula Lorimer
Paula Lorimer, director of Harrogate Convention Centre, declines to talk to the Stray Ferret.
But in last week’s press release she highlighted how the venue contributes to the wider visitor economy. She said:
We are delighted to see that the event industry is on a healthy trajectory of growth and Harrogate continues to attract event organisers from around the UK.
We will continue to bring quality events and footfall to the town and ensure that investment in the venue translates into valuable economic impact on Harrogate for years to come.
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