News
Business Tourism - Manchester’s growing success!
Published at 09:42 on 29th of January 2010
National Meetings Week 21 – 25 September
The meetings and events industry in Britain is worth over £22 billion and the North West benefits from 21.4 million business tourism trips every year. Manchester accounts for the majority of the trips; almost double the number of its closest rival in the region.
At the heart of Manchester’s increasing success in this sector is the city’s convention complex Manchester Central, the city’s principal driver of business tourism. In 2009/10, Manchester Central is expected to achieve an economic impact* of £58.3 million, a significant increase on prior years. Over the next three years, Manchester Central is already scheduled to host or is on the shortlist to host national and international events that could bring almost £100 million in economic impact to the city**.
To secure this level of business Manchester Central works closely with the city’s conference bureau Visit Manchester. As a team, they work to raise the profile of Manchester and bring key events to the city, including the Conservative Party Conference, which will be held at Manchester Central next month.
The city’s success has included securing political party conferences for 2006, plus every year from 2008 to 2012 and 2014, which will bring substantial economic benefits to Manchester. The city will also welcome the huge Charted Institute of Personnel and Development in November when the annual conference and exhibition moves to Manchester for the first time. Manchester Central is also the venue for the World Youth and Student Travel conference next week, the first time the event has taken place in the UK.
Commenting Lesley Tomlinson, chief executive of Manchester Central said; “The meetings and events industry generates significant benefits for UK cities, therefore our aim is to ensure that Manchester remains competitive in the national and international market. We are part-way through an extensive redevelopment programme at Manchester Central and this investment is really starting paying dividends in attracting an increasing number of high profile events to the city.”
As a destination, Manchester is reaping the rewards of this focus on winning new business; in the International Congress & Convention Association ranking, Manchester moved up from 86th place to 69th, and up to 4th place in the UK ranking.
Commenting, Paul Simpson, managing director of Visit Manchester said: “We have worked very hard to build the city’s profile nationally and internationally, investing in it and positioning Manchester as a desirable destination for business events. Manchester Central is a key factor in attracting these events and we will continue to work closely with Lesley and her team.”
National meetings week 21 – 25 September is part of Visit Britain’s Keep Britain Talking awareness campaign. For more information visit www.keepbritaintalking.co.uk.