Event profs of Milton Keynes - we speak to Andrew Kirby of Destination Milton Keynes

To celebrate Milton Keynes as our 'Destination of the Month' for June, we caught up with a few Milton Keynes people to find out more about the services they offer for event professionals - first up is Andrew Kirby of Destination Milton Keynes

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DW: Hi Andrew, thanks for showing us some of the amazing things that Milton Keynes has to offer – can you tell us a little bit about your role at Destination Milton Keynes and what you love about it?

Andrew: My pleasure! I work with a wide variety of hotels, high-profile venues, visitor attractions, parks, bars and restaurants across the whole of Milton Keynes to promote and market their facilities and events to our growing leisure and business audiences. There is so much to do in Milton Keynes during the day and at night and we are now attracting record numbers of visitors throughout the year. With an increasing MICE profile and ambitious plans for the future, it’s a fantastic role working with such passionate people, all coming together to promote the city and our fantastic, varied offering.

DW: Can you debunk some of common misconceptions about Milton Keynes?

Andrew: Milton Keynes has developed a huge amount over recent years, and I think it is more important than ever for event planners and organisers to visit the city to experience it first-hand and see what we have to offer. I constantly get feedback from clients and visitors stating that the city has far-exceeded their expectations so I think the increasing work of DMK will go a long way to changing existing perceptions and create strong word-of-mouth within the industry that it needs to be seen and experienced. London, Manchester, Bristol and Liverpool are all easily accessible, for example, allowing Milton Keynes to be an affordable and unique destination option within the UK MICE industry.

DW: Can you tell us about some new exciting things that are coming to Milton Keynes?

Andrew: I’m sure everyone is aware of the Universal Studios theme park which has recently been announced and is coming to Bedford in 2031. This is an amazing boost to tourism and events in the region and will generate a significant amount of economic activity, both directly and indirectly. In addition, the Ox-Cam Arc development and the expansion of Luton Airport also provide key infrastructural changes close to the city. With new entertainment spaces planned for the city in coming years, developments to our train station to meet increasing passenger numbers, and an expansion of our hotel and events capacity, Milton Keynes is very well placed to maximise the impact of such developments and drive the MICE industry in the city moving forwards.