Birmingham is aiming to capitalise on the Olympics by encouraging organisers to base their events in the region this summer.

Meet Birmingham, the city’s business tourism organisation, has said that venues - including etc.venues’ Maple House - are already being booked up during the Olympics as organisers seeks to escape increased rates and occupancy levels in the capital.

Guy Booth, general manager of Birmingham’s etc venues, said: “We are starting to notice London-based companies moving their business to Birmingham from late July as a direct result of this summer’s Olympic Games, which puts us in a strong position as we continue to grow our award-winning brand.”

Birmingham is also hosting training camps for the USA and Jamaican track and field teams, while venues including the Birmingham Hippodrome, Symphony Hall and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery will all be welcoming events as part of the Cultural Olympiad, the cultural celebration for the Games.

The boost in business has been helped by Meet Birmingham’s inaugural Showcase which was held at the end of last year and generated nearly £100k of confirmed business. The event – which was sponsored by Chiltern Railways and M&IT, gave the region’s venues, accommodation and travel providers the chance to take advantage of over 75 hours worth of face-to-face meetings with more than 30 national buyers.

Ian Taylor, commercial director at Marketing Birmingham, the city’s marketing partnership which operates Meet Birmingham, added: “Birmingham is the events destination of choice outside of the capital, so it is appropriate that organisers consider the city as the perfect cost effective base, delivering a world-class visitor experience, during what will be an understandably busy London this summer".

Pictured: Organisers doing business at the Meet Birmingham Showcase at Edgbaston