Corporate market to provide growth for Center Parcs

The new resort, which includes 625 lodges and a 75-bedroom hotel and spa, will open in the spring with a dedicated meetings and events wing designed specifically to target business guests set to follow in October. 

Center Parcs' head of corporate sales Daniel Whittemore said while catering for the corporate market wasn't a new move for the business, it was an area where it expected to see growth, especially with the opening of Woburn Forest. 

He said: "We had conference and meeting facilities at Sherwood Forest when it opened 25 years ago, but I'd say over the last 10 to 15 years the corporate market has become an area where we have seen consistent growth. The leisure side of the business continues to grow, but more specifically our corporate business is really gaining pace. 

"The location of Woburn Forest was specifically chosen as a way to get into the London market, which is an area we don't attract at the moment. There are direct rail links to our nearest station from St Pancras, with the journey taking about 45 minutes, so people can attend just for the day, or stay for longer in our hotel or lodges." 

Corporate environment​

Woburn Forest's meeting facility includes a 1,000 sq metre space that can seat up to 800 delegates theatre style or 680 for dinner, eight event suites and a business centre. Wi-Fi and car parking are free and the resort also offers team building activities such as tree trekking, archery, laser combat and geo cache. 

Whittemore said: "We are extremely excited ahead of the opening of our brand new venue and are confident that we can offer even the most discerning event planner or delegate a first-class experience. Furthermore, we provide the ideal corporate learning and team building environment, alongside excellent services and flexible on-village facilities."  

As well as building dedicated facilities, Center Parcs has also made its pricing more simple for corporate guests, Whittemore said, with a 24-hour delegate rate set at £129 + VAT. The brands's conference and events website was also updated at the end of last year to show off dedicated facilities and make it simpler for corporate guests to book. 

"The feedback so far has been really good," said Whittemore, "and we really see the corporate side of our business growing strongly over the next year."