Victoria Warehouse, in partnership with other leading venues, suppliers, and partners from across the city, recently hosted a successful and dynamic familiarisation trip - branded as FAM24 - bringing together 50 creative event agents from London and around the UK.
FAM24 took place last month, with the aim to showcase Manchester’s strength as a premier destination for events while celebrating partnership and collaboration along the way.
The trip was the result of meticulous planning, headed by the Victoria Warehouse team along with some of Manchester’s most respected venues, Manchester Central, Factory International’s Aviva Studios, Depot Mayfield, and ABC Buildings.
The journey began with a warm Mancunian welcome at Manchester Piccadilly, followed by a tour and lunch at Manchester Central. Marketing Manchester supported by hosting a session for delegates, highlighting the top reasons why Manchester is the ultimate playground for event planners.
After settling into the hotel partners - The Reach at Piccadilly and Hyatt Regency - the next stop was exploring the versatile ABC Buildings, complete with DJ in the dome, drinks and canapes.
Next, a surprise standout for the delegates was a boat cruise from Castlefield to Victoria Warehouse. After a tour of the venue, everyone was welcomed into Victoria Warehouse’s newest event space, The Tobacco Stores.
The space was dressed and lit to perfection by Sterling Event Group, Options Greathire, and Verdure Floral. Guests indulged in an impressive four-course dinner, accompanied by entertainment from Elements girl band, who got the crowd to their feet following dinner.
Day two began with breakfast at the hotels, before diving into the immersive 'Sweet Dreams' exhibition at Aviva Studios. The group then toured the legendary ‘Theatre of Dreams’, Manchester United’s Old Trafford. FAM24 wrapped up at Depot Mayfield, a former railway station turned buzzing arts and events hub, with drinks at Freight Island—a perfect finale to an action-packed itinerary.
These two days were a brilliant display of Manchester’s event and hospitality scene. The city’s rich legacy of sport, culture, music, and community spirit truly shone, proving once again that Manchester is a top cultural and creative hotspot that definitely deserves the spotlight.
Freya Glenn, Sales Manager at Victoria Warehouse said,
“Our sales team worked incredibly hard to bring this idea to life, and the feedback from the agents has been overwhelmingly positive.
We’ve managed to exceed expectations, and it’s clear that the strong partnerships we’ve built with our neighbouring venues and suppliers were key to the success of this trip. I’m confident that all of us will see a return on investment, and we’re excited to see the opportunities that will arise from the connections made during these two days.”
The success of the FAM24 trip is a testament to the hard work, creativity, and collaboration that define the city’s events sector.
Victoria Braddock, Managing Director at Marketing Manchester, said,
“Familiarisation trips are incredibly important for showcasing the city's strengths and engaging with conference buyers and agents. We were pleased to support Victoria Warehouse in hosting this successful event, and we look forward to continued collaboration with them as a leading events and conference destination in the city."
https://victoriawarehouse.com/