The National Union of Teachers (NUT) have announced this week that they will be holding their 2006 annual conference at the Riviera International Conference Centre, Torquay.

“This is such exciting news and a great outcome after months of persuasion to get them to consider Torquay”, says Nicky Harding, of Conference Torquay, “the NUT always considered the Riviera International Centre too small, in terms of extra meeting space, but now with the addition of the new Rosetor Room, we are able to meet all their conference requirements.”

The NUT Conference will take place over the weekend of 13th – 18th April 2006, and will attract in excess of 1200 delegates from all over the country, the majority of who are likely to bring their families. This in turn means even greater benefits to the local economy through visits to local attractions, shops, food outlets and of course for taxis and accommodation providers.

As well as the kudos of holding such a major league conference, an event of this size brings fantastic national media interest, providing the Centre and the Bay with unprecedented free publicity and putting Torquay up against its closest rivals: Harrogate and Bournemouth, two destinations which the NUT would normally use.

This is a return visit for the NUT who were last in Torquay in 1922! The conference was held at the “New” Town Hall in Torquay and was attended by 1800 NUT representatives chaired by the then chairman, Mr W Cove of Rhondda.