Ponds Forge, Sheffield, is celebrating after being shortlisted for two prestigious business tourism awards.
The venue, managed by Sheffield International Venues (SIV), has been recognised in the Large Venue of the Year and Best Event categories at the 2010 Insider Business Tourism Awards.
The Best Event Category nomination is for Sensoria 2009 - one of hundreds of events held at Ponds Forge over the last 12 months.
Ponds Forge was selected as the location for one of the music and film festival’s events – a showcase of audio and visuals in and around the swimming pool area, creating a unique and sensory experience.
Visitors were able to enjoy the abstract nature of the audio and visuals as part of their normal swim sessions. A screen was assembled underwater in the diving pool, allowing people to view the digital images and artworks from the observation windows.
In the Large Venue category, Ponds Forge is up against the Yorkshire Event Centre, The Doncaster Dome, the National Railway Museum in York and the Harrogate International Centre.
Now in their third year, the awards recognise organisations and venues that go the extra mile to bring more business into Yorkshire, celebrating the very best of Yorkshire's business tourism industry.
Helen Broadbent, general manager at Ponds Forge, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been shortlisted for these prestigious industry awards. The nominations highlight the diverse nature of events held at the venue.
“It really is testament to the hard work and dedication of all our staff that we are recognised for delivering excellence in business tourism. Being shortlisted helps to put Ponds Forge and SIV on the map, highlighting the hard work we do to help promote the city on both a local and national level.”
Despite the economic down turn, 2009 witnessed Pond Forge buck national trends and prove itself to be a valuable business tourism venue. Its city centre location boasts one of the largest spaces for hire in Sheffield with 1,520m2 in total, accommodating up to 2,000 delegates. Ponds Forge continues to be vital to the regeneration and economic prosperity of Sheffield and the Yorkshire region as a whole.
SIV has a history of success at the awards, which last year saw Sheffield City Hall named as Large Venue of the Year and scoop the Grand Prix Award – the champion of champion’s honour.
SIV also collected the Excellence in Customer Service Award at the 2009 Sheffield Business Awards, organised by the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, which were held at Ponds Forge.
Winners of the 2010 Insider Business Tourism Awards will be announced at a black tie dinner at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds on Thursday, March 18 2010.
For more information about Ponds Forge visit www.ponds-forge.co.uk, or for conferencing and events information go to www.conferencingandeventssheffield.com.
