P1 Stage Successful Sports Tourism Business Forum in Cardiff

A business networking event at St David’s Hotel, Cardiff Bay on Friday night saw a panel of high profile sports administrators and marketeers debate the rise of Wales as a host of major sporting events in front of an invited audience

The chief executive of the Football Association of Wales, Jonathan Ford joined P1 chief executive James Durbin and Visit Wales marketing director Mari Stevens at a special sport tourism event in Cardiff on Friday to discuss the rapidly growing sports sector within the multi-billion pound travel and tourism industry.

This is an area where Wales punches well above its weight which has seen it become a big fish in a very big pond.

The latest chapter in Wales’ success story is the news that the Millennium Stadium will host the UEFA Champions League final in 2017.

Mari Stevens and James Durbin highlighted the power of partnerships in staging successful sports events to attract visitors, stimulate the local economy and raise the profile of the host city and country.

P1 partnered with the Welsh government, supported by Cardiff City Council, to present the P1 Welsh Grand Prix of the Sea on the bank holiday weekend when huge crowds lined the waterfront for two days of high-speed, free to watch marine motorsport.

iSportconnect Chairman Michael Cunnah said: “The Business Forum examined and analysed Wales’ impressive position as a venue for some of the world’s biggest sporting events. All of the panelists contributed real insight, specifically identifying the pivotal role of the Welsh government in winning such events in the past and the future.”