I applaud the achievements of Mr Firth over the past years, but perhaps the lacklustre interest of the Leeds business community suggests that the Internation Business Convention brand has run its course for now, at least for the core business community in Yorkshire in these difficult financial times. As for the lack of conference facilities in Leeds, there is Saviles Hall available, but if that isn't of sufficient capacity, I presume larger conferences gravitate to Harrogate with their extensive facilities, which may have made proposing similar duplicate facilities in central Leeds difficult to justify. The Leeds Arena is a seperate issue from dedicated conference facilities, and is something Leeds does have a dire need for. I fully support the decision for the location of the arena, which is close to the inner ring road and ample car parking facilities, but also directly adjacent to the heart of one of the liveliest cities in the UK.

Robert Stubbs

I failed to mention in my previous comment the great job Mike Firth and his team have done over the years with YIBC. You deserve all the praise you are getting and well done indeed !

Nicholas Brown

How pathetic that delegates from Leeds City Council and Marketing Leeds stayed away because of threats from the Chinese over the participation of the Dalai Lama.

Stephen Blaney

I do so agree with Paul Whitakers comments about buses and bicycles. Why can't the City rulers in Leeds realise that the majority of it's residents have cars and will continue to do so at least until public transport approaches the standard of the Ripon to Leeds 36 bus ! The City Fathers should take this into account and be more" pro car" by not overcharging for parking, where the high charges help to destroy the retail shopping sector and at the same time they should try and accomodate better parking provision and park and ride facilities across the City. Cars will, in time, become more environmentally friendly and smaller as well and the sooner local authorities get it into their heads that we don't all want to be bossed around and be forced into public transport the better ! By all means cater for the segment of the community that wants and needs to travel by public transport, whether it be by bus or train, but stop persecuting the motorist that contributes so much to the economy of the UK.

Nicholas Brown

I do hope Mike will have a rethink and return to the Great Yorkshie SShow ground which was ideal Give it another go Mike

keith loudon

I do hope there will be enough interested parties to run an annual event perhaps not on the scale of YIBC but ignore the brand of 'Yorkshire' at your peril! Well done Mike for all you have contributed over the years.

keith Madeley

I have some sympathy for Mike Firth and his comments. He has done a fantastic job with YIBC over the years. However it is time to stop being too Leeds- centric and think of the broader Leeds City Region and even neighboring city regions ( which Mike did to be fair with the extended YIBC venues in Hull, Bridlington) . Harrogate has a fine conference facility as does Sheffield. My worry is that too many people think that the prospect of getting to London from Leeds 20 mins faster by a high speed train is going to be the answer to all Leeds problems.

malcolm cowing

They could always run the event in Sheffield where we have various facilities that could easily accomodate the event - Sheffield Arena, Ponds Forge, Cutlers Hall, City Hall to name a few !

patrick abel

I entirely agree with Mike Firth about the idiots that purport to run this once-great city of ours. These are the same people who stood by and let Manchester win the bid for the BBC northern location, because they couldn't sort out the infighting and politics by the mountain of quangos and arts bodies. All the Council thinks about are buses and bicycles which is why the city centre is dying on its feet. I cannot run my business from a bicycle or a bus!!

Paul Whitaker