Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments Group, will give a keynote speech at this year's Annual National Conference of Visitor Attractions (VAC2009).

The theme for this year's conference is Challenges make Champions, and the event programme will examine how the most successful attractions businesses survive and thrive in challenging times.

Merlin recently announced that it is expanding its portfolio with the opening of a new Sea Life aquarium in Phoenix, Arizona, US and the launch of a Legoland Discovery Centre centre at the Trafford Centre in Manchester.

The line-up of speakers also includes culture minister Barbara Follett.

The one-day conference, on Wednesday 7 October 2009, will return to the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London for the sixth time.

For more information on the conference, see the VAC2009 website: www.vac2009.co.uk .