Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure Networking Event 10th September 2026

Designed for professionals from across the hospitality and tourism economy, this event brings together businesses, venues and suppliers for an engaging evening of insight and connection.

Hosted at The Wroxeter, one of Shropshire's leading event and hospitality venues, guests will enjoy a unique setting in the heart of the Shropshire countryside. Combining historic charm with modern event facilities, The Wroxeter is renowned for hosting conferences, celebrations and business events, making it the perfect venue for this sector gathering.

We will hear from a fantastic line-up of guest speakers who will share insights, ideas and experiences from across the visitor economy:

Mark Hooper, Visit Shropshire will provide an introduction to the Town & Place AI data platform, exploring how the data is collected, what it tells us about visitor behaviour, how businesses and destinations can use it, and the value it brings to tourism planning and development. Mark will also share insights from the latest destination and event reporting.

Beth Heath, Shropshire Festivals will explore the value of events to destinations and businesses, highlighting how festivals and events contribute to local economies, drive footfall and strengthen a sense of place. Beth will share the story behind Shropshire Festivals, its impact across the county and some of the lessons learnt along the way. She’ll also look at why, in a world where audiences are increasingly savvy about what they are being sold, great marketing alone isn’t enough. Being authentic, open and human, sharing the highs as well as the challenges, and giving people a reason to genuinely connect with your business or destination can be just as powerful as the marketing itself.

Katie Greenow, Veenow Vineyard Ltd will tell the inspiring story behind Veenow, the Midlands' only certified sustainable vineyard. Katie will explore how sustainability sits at the heart of the business, why climate change is creating new opportunities for English wine production, and how the UK is becoming an increasingly recognised destination for world-class wine making. Veenow is Shropshire's largest vineyard and is recognised for its innovative and environmentally focused approach to viticulture.

Following the speaker presentations, there will be dedicated time for networking, idea sharing and building new partnerships.

Whether you are looking to strengthen local links, discover new opportunities or simply stay informed, this is a great chance to connect with others shaping Shropshire's hospitality, tourism and leisure sector.

Agenda

• 5:30pm - Arrival and networking
• 6:00pm - Welcome from our Chair, Mark Hooper, Visit Shropshire
• 6:10pm - Guest speaker presentations
• 6:40pm - Q&A
• 6:50pm - Networking
• 7:30pm - Event close