Southampton – The Place to do Business
Southampton is the south’s largest city by population and boasts excellent connections by road, rail, air and ferry, making it superbly positioned as the south coast’s premier business events destination. This is by far the largest cruise terminal in the UK and the country’s second-largest container port.
In terms of connectivity, it’s located at the junction of two major motorways, offers a direct rail link from London with a 75-minute journey time, plus Southampton International Airport with scheduled air services from key departure points across the UK and Europe.
Moreover, it has more than 3,000 hotel bedrooms from major corporate brands to independent properties with state-of-the-art meeting facilities. This historic waterfront city regularly hosts domestic and international conferences and business meetings of all shapes and sizes and it’s easy to see why the destination is such a favourite with travel and event organisers.
The city is already being hailed as a ‘city of opportunity’ and its involvement in the Solent Freeport enterprise only adds to its burgeoning investment appeal. Designated in 2022, the Freeport encompasses some 42,000 businesses across eight locations – six of which are in Southampton.
Business travel and events are also at the heart of Southampton Renaissance, a major new initiative designed to transform perceptions of this renowned historic port city. In addition to two leading universities, the University of Southampton and Southampton Solent University, the city is at the forefront in a range of sectors, aside from maritime, these include medical research, higher and further education, financial and professional services, retail and, of course, tech.
The Southampton Region Hoteliers’ Association encompasses key brands such as Accor, Best Western, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Leonardo and Moxy as well as many independent properties. Top conference venues include Mayflower Theatre, St Mary’s Stadium, and the Leonardo Royal Hotel Grand Harbour, each providing cutting-edge facilities and room capacity from 10 to over 1,000 delegates.
Many of these venues are centrally located, making it easy for attendees to arrive by public transport and access nearby hotels, restaurants and cultural attractions. These spaces also offer packages that include AV equipment, on-site refreshment coordinators and breakout areas for networking. For smaller meetings or team-building events, spaces like Moxy Southampton’s social spaces and the University of Southampton’s Business School provide affordable and professional settings.
Full details on event facilities, accommodation and event spaces are available from the Southampton Event Venue guide, downloadable HERE.
And when the work is done, Southampton still has lots to offer. With a history that dates to the Romans - don’t miss its connections with The Mayflower and Titanic – you’ll find more than 200 bars and restaurants, a cultural quarter close to the medieval Town Walls, two theatres, two major art galleries, more than 2,400 acres of parks (many with outdoor event spaces) and fantastic shopping at Westquay.
The city is also the ideal base from which to explore Hampshire’s beautiful New Forest National Park, the historic city of Winchester, Portsmouth and the resort town of Bournemouth, Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, plus – just a short ferry crossing away – the Isle of Wight.
Any other business? Southampton looks forward to welcoming you!
