SWINDON-based retail giant WH Smith has chosen Wanborough's Venues Unlimited to manage its accommodation and conferences until 2008.

WH Smith's strategic purchasing controller Scott Jameson said: "Having used several companies to provide the services in the past we were focused on appointing one company who could provide the level of support we were looking for."

VU was one of 60 companies tendering for the contract and client manager Darren Scott said: "VU has worked closely with WH Smith for 14 years and understands and appreciates the drive to control expenditure.

"We felt confident as sole contractor that we had proven our capacity to deliver on all stated requirements."