A new on-line booking service that will make Torquay even more appealing as a conference destination has been officially launched.

The Riviera International Conference Centre and its Conference Torquay subsidiary have introduced a new system that offers delegates attending a conference at the RICC the facility to check prices and availability of accommodation providers and book their accommodation on line.

The new facility – which has just been used with great success by the Royal College of Midwives – was designed and installed by Paignton website designers Createanet.

The Riviera International Conference Centre’s PR and marketing co-ordinator, Sarah James explained: “Conference Torquay has always offered Delegates attending conferences at the RICC a free accommodation booking service. This has been an essential service allowing Conference Organisers more time to concentrate on their conference instead of spending time booking, changing and cancelling overnight accommodation!”

“Over the past 12 months we have developed and improved the existing Accommodation Booking System. Not only can Delegates book on line but, through the links to the accommodation providers’ web sites, they are able to get additional comprehensive information.

Conference Bureau manager Nicky Harding added: “While this is a valuable service to delegates, the best results we have had are in the way we inform our colleagues in restaurants, taxi firms and shops of forthcoming conferences. As a result we have had really appreciative feedback from Organisers and Delegates that they were all expected and welcomed to Torquay.”

The recent Royal College of Midwives conference was the first to benefit from the enhanced accommodation and on-line booking.

Over 500 delegates attended the three-day event and according to Conference Organiser, James Hampton, the new service lightened his load as it took on the management role of finding suitable accommodation for all the delegates.

“ We did not receive any queries or complaints from delegates which is a testament to how successful the whole process was handled. If we bring a conference to Torquay in the future, I will, without doubt, use Conference Torquay to handle the accommodation bookings for delegates. It was also nice that others in the Town knew who we were and why we were there”