CHESTER Racecourse is to host a one-day conference with a tourism focus later this month.

Travel, Leisure and Tourism North 2012 will be held on May 24 and will explore issues, trends and opportunities for the visitor economy in northern England.

The event, in association with Marketing Cheshire, has attracted a number of prominent speakers.

They include ones from Manchester Airports Group, the GB Taekwondo team and Global Radio.

Also speaking will be Iain Hawkins, head of Blackpool Cluster, Merlin Entertainments Group; Chris Melia, director of Colliers International; Lorraine Jones, planning director of PHD North; Nicky Homes, Nova International commercial director; Dr Philip Long, tourism academic staff lead for Leeds Metropolitan University; and Tony Wood, Eden Luxury Group digital director.

Ali Gayward, UK commercial manager of easyJet, will act as chairman.

The conference is £79 for those booking before May 7, thereafter it is £99 plus VAT for Marketing Cheshire members and £119 plus VAT for non-members.

To book a place, visit www.tltnorth.co.uk. For more details, call Rachel Bullock on 07931 654 567 or email rachel.bullock@how-do.co.uk.