EXCLUSIVE - Ocean Media, the organiser of wedding, fashion and leisure events, is launching a new show at the NEC to fill the void left behind by VOS Media’s southbound Outdoors Show.

The Outdoor Leisure Show will take place during the last three days of the 50-year-old Boat and Caravan Show, 23-28 February 2011, taking advantage of the February half-term holiday.

The co-located event is expected to capitalise heavily on the market left behind by The Outdoors Show, which will be co-located with the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show (LIBS) at London’s Excel in 2011.

It will celebrate outdoor pursuits such as camping, climbing, fell-walking and other outdoor leisure pursuits, and has significant crossover with the visitors attending the Boat and Caravan Show. The organiser hopes for 20,000 visitors at the event, able to attend both events for one ticket price.

VOS Media’s Outdoors Show took place this year on 26-28 March 2010 and due to its co-location with LIBS, next year’s event will now occupy a late January slot. The February date for the new Outdoor Leisure Show means its will occupy a similar date in the event calendar to the VOS show, as well as the same location.

Director of Ocean Media’s outdoor and leisure portfolio, Andy Gibb, tells EN the new event will “drive the broader audience that the Boat and Caravan Show exhibitors enjoy”.

“Our in-depth research has shown there is a demand for an outdoor leisure show in Birmingham, attracting visitors from the Midlands rather than London and the South, who have plenty of shows in the sector to choose from,” he says.