The organisers behind Cumbria’s largest and longest-running hospitality show are urging businesses in the north and west of the county to get involved in next year’s event and pool their strengths for the benefit of the entire region.

The Lakes Hospitality Trade Show will be staged for the 44th year on March 13 and 14 2019, with the Lakes Hospitality Association teaming up with Cumbria Tourism to promote the event for the local hospitality business community.

Until this year, the show focused primarily on businesses in the Lake District. As a result, over the past three years we have grown and in 2018, organisers made a conscious decision to move the event to a larger, more accessible venue - at the J36 Rural Auction Centre, off the M6 motorway – in order to broaden the appeal to a wider range of hospitality firms and associated support services at a more regional level.

As a result, the two-day not-for-profit event welcomed a record 1,200+ delegates and more than 120 trade stands, with proceeds from the show re-directed back into several visitor events.

Businesses in north and west Cumbria are now being called on to throw their support behind the 2019 show. That includes tourist attractions and food and drink suppliers, as well as support services such as technology and catering equipment to name but a few.

Some of the local organisations already signed up to exhibit range from Cumberland Business and Colliers International to the University of Cumbria and Carlisle Ambassadors.

Event director, James Tasker, says the event is about bringing like-minded people together to network and do better business for the benefit of everyone in the hospitality sector.

He said: “The Lakes Hospitality Trade Show has a long and rich heritage, but it is important for us to keep growing and evolving. That’s why we are encouraging more and more businesses from far outside the Lake District National Park boundary to take part. The more we can work together as a county, the stronger and more competitive we can become as a destination.

“Whether exhibiting or just attending for the day, there will also be the chance to see the latest products and to access free seminars about hot topics in tourism and hospitality.”

Grant Seaton, senior business lending manager at The Cumberland said: “We find it a great place to catch up with existing clients, speak to potential new clients and network with other businesses involved in the hospitality sector.

“The show is always very well attended and the seminars they put on cover a number of useful and interesting topics. It’s an important part of our events calendar, as our Business Lending team takes great care to keep up with the latest industry developments, helping us to provide a consultative service and add value to our commercial mortgage clients We’re looking forward to seeing both new and familiar faces at the show in March.”

The Lakes Hospitality Trade Show will take place at the J36 Rural Auction Centre near Kendal on 13-14 March 2019. nMore online at www.lakeshospitalitytradeshow.co.uk