Coventry-based Ricoh Arena has appointed a new head of sales to drive exhibition, conference and meetings bookings at the venue.
 
Will Aylott was formerly an account director at the ICC in Birmingham and has spent the past eight years in the events industry. He replaces Laurie Dalrymple, who has been promoted to venue director.

Ricoh Arena CEO Daniel Gidney said exhibitions, conferences and meetings are counting for an increasing portion of its business following the venue’s £3.7m expansion in 2010.
 
He pointed out the venue was now seventh in the list of top 20 conference destinations.
 
“The additional £3.7m investment in the Ricoh means we are one of the few UK venues which can provide 20,000sqm of flexible space across 80 rooms including a 6,000sqm exhibition hall and auditorium,” Gidney said. “Flexibility is key in this industry.”
 
Aylott agreed this event flexibility will be a key focus for him in his new role.
 
“The Ricoh Arena has built a tremendous reputation in just six years and already has an excellent client base from local companies through the international bluechip corporations,” Aylott continued. “In the last year alone we have staged major conferences for Boots, Whitbread and Costa and we want to build on that side of the corporate business base as well as initiatives in the national association market.”
 
Ricoh Arena will host the new Engineering Design Show from Findlay Media next October.
 
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