CONFERENCE Winchester's Conference Desk has confirmed its first event at the Marwell Hotel, Colden Common.

Conference Winchester is a consortium of more than 30 corporate events venues in the Winchester district.

The Conference Desk, managed by Right Location, the consortium's preferred agency, was formally launched in mid-May. It aims to maximise

conference and meeting opportunities in the district, and provide a total one-stop-shop for the conference organiser.

Part of the success of Conference Winchester has been the setting up of a referral system between the venues involved. This ensures that all conference business is retained within the district, with the Conference Desk acting as a central point for inquiries.

Sarah Hudson, area sales manager for the Marwell Hotel said: " We see Conference Winchester as a major new initiative to bring in and retain business within the Winchester district. We are very pleased that we confirmed the first piece of referral business passed to the Conference Winchester Conference Desk by our colleagues at King Alfred's College"

Diane Slater, Director of Right Location, said: "We are delighted to confirm our first event for Confer-ence Winchester. It proves that the referral system is an integral part of the success of the Conference Desk and ensures that business can be kept within the district"