Iconic UK venue changes name in major rebrand

One of the most iconic event venues in Northern England has announced a new name and rebranding. Harrogate International Centre (HIC Yorkshire) will drop its current logo and title from April, to become Harrogate Convention Centre. Brian Dobson, head of sales and events at the venue, said: “The rebranding is part of our 10-year plan to modernise and keep the business relevant in a tough market, while drawing on the experience, not only of our venue but of Harrogate as a town, in welcoming major events. “We have been hosting conventions in Harrogate for almost 200 years and, through smart investment in our facilities and recognising our strengths, we have a great foundation for the next 200 years. It’s about staying relevant in a rapidly changing events industry.” He added: “We want to get more emphasis on the name ‘Harrogate’ in our branding. The name HIC Yorkshire didn’t really get across what we do or where we are. “Harrogate, really, is our unique selling point; people love it when they come here. It’s a great town. “We decided on the word ‘convention’ because it means a gathering of people with similar interests or professions, whether at a conference or exhibition – and that’s exactly what we do here.”