A contractor has been selected to carry out an upgrade on Harrogate International Centre, it has been announced.
The Harrogate venue has hired national firm Wates Construction to create 3300 sq m of new event space, together with a new entrance and registration foyer.
Harrogate International Centre director, Stuart Quin, said the contractor understands the venue's needs.
"On completion of the contract, we will have added capacity to allow existing events to grow but also enable us to penetrate new markets and, importantly, create flexibility to allow us to run three or four events simultaneously on site," he noted.
Harrogate Borough Council and the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward, are jointly funding the scheme.
Andy Tordoff, assistant director of Environment Yorkshire Forward (Tourism and Rural Renaissance), added: "By bringing more conferences and events to the region, this will have a positive impact on the surrounding areas and the regional economy."
Harrogate International Centre also owns and operates the Royal Hall, an Edwardian theatre.