This Month we get to know Royal Armouries:
What was your motivation to join ICCA?
We have joined ICCA for the great community, networking oppotunities and the tools, support, and resources you have to offer to help the venue grow and improve.
Tell us your story. How Royal Armouries started?
In 1990, after two years of preliminary research and deliberation, the decision was taken to establish a new museum in the north of England to house the bulk of our collection. The concept of the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds had been born.The museum in Leeds, West Yorkshire was built using the best of traditional museum design and was developed to show our collection in relation to the real world in which we live. Our collection isn’t a closed one, but is ever growing. Through public monies we continue to collect and safeguard the nation’s heritage for future generations to enjoy and to learn from.
What sets Royal Armouries apart?
The Royal Armouries & New Dock Hall is the largest dedicated conference, events and exhibition space in Leeds. Our venue offers world-class facilities for high-profile conferences, conventions, exhibitions, awards dinners and corporate events for up to 2,500 delegates, hosting more than 380 national and international events every year. We have been game changers and innovators for events for more than 20 years and we are proud to have an unrivalled reputation for excellence and exceptional customer service. With stunning views of Leeds Dock to wow your delegates, unbeatable transport links, 11 versatile event spaces, award winning catering and audio-visual team, the modern, vibrant Royal Armouries and New Dock Hall can’t be beaten.
What is your favourite success story from your organisation?
The Royal Armouries undertakes and promotes the highest standards of environmental practice to ensure it is operating as a socially responsible organisation both locally and globally. It recognises that protecting the environment is essential for the future and has a policy and event checklist that increases awareness of sustainability amongst staff, service providers, clients and the local community.
The Venue proactively evaluates and adapts its policies and practices and has acted across all areas of the business to become more sustainable. It has received Silver accreditations from Green Tourism and Greengage Solutions and has been working closely with both organisations on ways in which we can continue to deliver improvements and innovations. These accreditations recognise hotels and conference venues that meet high standards of sustainability.
What can we expect to see from Royal Armouries in the future?
It is over 700 years since the founding of the original Armouries collection. We are planning a series of projects to refurbish and sustain the main museum building and redisplay its collection to a wider and more diverse audience than ever before. Placemaking interventions around Leeds Dock and Armouries Square will create more liveable and greener civic spaces for visitors and locals alike and there will be a major development of the Armouries’ Tiltyard complex as a new multipurpose riverside arts, events and conference space.
The redevelopment of the current Tiltyard area to become a mixed cultural, conference and events space, including a new connection to the river and creating new green spaces
Which trends do you see in the Association Meetings?
Beyond sustainability, organisers wanting to leave a positive lasting legacy post event.
Neurodiversity inclusivity.