Scarborough has officially launched its own conference bureau this week, covering the North Yorkshire town as well as Whitby and Filey.

At the helm will be Shafiqa Gunton, its business tourism coordinator, who will work closely with Welcome to Yorkshire and other regional and local conference and tourism providers. Previously, business tourism for Scarborough had been managed under York and Scarborough Conferences and although the two bureaux are now independent, they will continue to work together.

Gunton said: “It might come as a surprise to some people how well equipped our coastal towns are for conferences.”

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, added: “Scarborough and Whitby are hugely successful leisure tourism destinations, and we are hoping to promote the area as a place for business tourism, too.”

Pictured: Shafiqa Gunton, business tourism coordinator, Scarborough Conference Bureau