Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears!

The conference proved to be a great success and next year we will be in the historic spa town of Llandrindod Wells in Mid-Wales.

The author is Elizabethan, the period Roman, yet the sentiment is more relevant than ever. This is why it will be the theme for our 2011 Farm Stay Conference and AGM which will be held at the De Vere Slaley Hall in Northumberland from Sunday 13 to Tuesday 15 November.

I am delighted to welcome Mr Ken Robinson CBE as our key note speaker; Ken has a wealth of experience in the tourism industry and until recently was the Chairman of the Tourism Alliance, the principle lobbying body for tourism to government. Ken is never dull and has an intuitive ability to say what we are all thinking regardless of what the political position may, or may not be.

After a light-hearted welcome evening on the Sunday, tours will be available to Hadrian's Wall or the City of Durham, while golf and spa facilities are also available on site. We will be hosting our Black Tie Gala Dinner and dance on Monday evening before the main event on Tuesday.

The theme will reflect the need to make yourself heard in this modern world and we will share examples of the latest practises making for great business results. Booking forms can be downloaded at the following address: www.farmstay.co.uk/AGMbookingform