Feature

The Convergence Summit Heads North

The Convergence Summit Heads North

New Hilton Deansgate Hotel

Comms Business Magazine is taking the winning formulae of the Convergence Summit to Manchester next Spring in a move that sees for the first time a major communications trade show coming to the region.

The northern based reseller community is a dynamic and vibrant sector that has encompasses successful companies and thrusting entrepreneurs all keen to represent the communications sector in large city centre areas such as Liverpool, Leeds Sheffield and Manchester.

Talking of dynamic – Steve Donovan of Manchester based Armstrong

Communications says, “Thank you very much and about time too! We are always trekking down south for exhibitions and the fact that the Convergence Summit is coming to Manchester is brilliant. Besides, Manchester is the best town in the UK – what took you so long to come to the same conclusion?”

 

Same Format – Highly Informative

Event Director Miles Bossom, commented, “Since the Summit was launched in 2002 as an annual educational platform addressing the issues of voice and data convergence it has out-grown two venues. 2006 saw the Summit move to Sandown Park in Surrey, where with 74 exhibitors, 1988 attendees and bursting Seminar theatres everyone agreed that the Summit managed to bring the “buzz” back to our industry.

In response to overwhelming demand from exhibitors, and to cater better for the Northern reseller community, we will now also be holding a Convergence Summit in the North of England, to take place on 1st/2nd May 2007 at the brandnew Hilton Deansgate Hotel in Manchester.

The Convergence Summit is now the ONLY credible Comms Channel focussed exhibition and is supported by all the channel’s leading vendors and distributors. Its innovative format of onestand- size for-all ensures that exhibitors compete on an equal footing offering the most cost effective showcase for convergence products and solutions in the UK. With 30 companies already booked for the Manchester event this is sure to be a sell out!”

Nimans agree and is proud to be the exclusive main sponsor of the Convergence Summit North event, which builds on the success of its VIP sponsorship of Convergence Summit 2006.

Chairman Julian Niman said: “As the industry’s leading telecoms distributor we are delighted to be supporting such a prestigious industry gathering which, importantly, is the first event in the north being held on our home turf of Manchester. As we maintain our philosophy of always providing the highest levels of customer support to the dealer channel, the Northern Summit extends this backing further by bringing the show closer to regional resellers. We look forward to ensuring the event is a major success and one of the most important trade shows of 2007.”

 

Superb Venue

The Hilton Deansgate in Manchester is a brand sparkly new 5 Star Hotel and destined to become the most prestigious in Manchester – already one of the most cosmopolitan cities in England.

We will attract the major players in the convergence market and deliver an excellent seminar programme. Generally make the northern and Scottish contingent feel loved like never before.

Phil Reynolds, Joint CEO of Oak Telecom is a Platinum Sponsor of both the Manchester and Sandown Park Convergence Summits for 2007.

“There are many events that resellers could attend throughout the year but none as specialist and specifically targeted as the Convergence Summit. The Summit has driven the channel agenda for convergence for the last four years which is why we continue to sponsor the event and recommend resellers take the time to visit. By taking the event to Manchester we are being far more inclusive of the northern based reseller community.”

 

Summit Is Top Choice

A recent poll of resellers carried out by distributor SOS reveals the Convergence Summit is the industry’s Preferred Exhibition. SOS, who have exhibited at a number of events this year rated the Summit as their most successful. However, as these events are primarily organised for the resellers, SOS were interested to find out what their customers thought.

 

Results from a recent SOS Communications email poll indicate that the distributor’s base also support this view. 84% of resellers preferred to attend the Convergence Summit compared to just 16% voting for the Comms Channel Expo.

 

SOS said, “The results reflect the success of the Convergence Summit this year and the move to the new Southern venue – Sandown Park – seems to have supported this. The prospect of a Manchester based Convergence Summit on 1-2 May 2007 will surely open up this trade exhibition to a wider audience that currently find the journey time to the South, London, or even Birmingham, out of their reach.”

Colin Hepher, Managing Director for SOS Communications commented “I am not surprised by the poll results at all. The Summit event this year was a pleasure to attend and deserved to come out on top”. Hepher continued “Following the success of the Southern exhibition, we are looking forward to the Manchester Convergence Summit.”

 

MORE INFORMATION: The Convergence Summit North will take place at The Hilton Deansgate, Manchester on 1st and 2nd May 2007. The Convergence Summit South will take place at Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey on 9th & 10th October 2007 For further information on exhibiting contact Paul Johnson or Miles Bossom on 01892 538348. Details on how to register to attend will be available from next month.