The Conservative Party's landmark autumn conference - its first
since taking power - has had a major event impact* for Birmingham.
The city's economy was boosted by £18,400,000 as delegates
converged on Birmingham for the Conference, held at The ICC
Birmingham on 3 - 6 October 2010. The city also welcomed over 2,000
of the world's media who helped generate global coverage with media
value of £28,881,000.
The total event impact has surpassed all expectations, and is
nearly 75 per cent more than was achieved the last time the
Conservatives held a party conference in Birmingham in 2008
(£28 million). The conference also attracted twice the
number of journalists than the last conference here (1000
journalists registered in 2008).
The partnership - or Team Birmingham - approach was also
evidenced by the Fringe Programme of 12 events that spanned the
arts, business, transport, health, digital media, science and
technology. 800 delegates attended the Birmingham Fringe
events.
Leader of Birmingham Council, Cllr Mike Whitby said:
"As today's figures show, the Conservative Party Conference
provided a huge economic benefit to the city and to our local
businesses. I am particularly impressed by the amount of positive
media coverage, national and international, Birmingham received,
enabling us to showcase what Birmingham has to offer not only as a
conference venue but as a destination city. Combined with
the opportunity it presented to outline Birmingham's case to the
top tiers of the government, Birmingham has successfully putting
itself at the heart of the news and policy agenda."
Ian Taylor, Commercial Director, Marketing Birmingham,
commented:
"Birmingham has built huge momentum as a host for major high
profile events and this is evidenced by the Conservative Party
Conference, the first time the city has hosted a major autumn
conference for the party in power. The fact that this is
their first conference since being in government no doubt boosted
the delegate numbers and media profile considerably - but the city
simply stepped up to the plate, worked together in partnership,
and delivered the conference without a hitch. This has truly
cemented our position as the conference city of Europe."
Geoff Fenlon, General Manager, The ICC Birmingham, said:
"These results are absolutely staggering and I know that I speak
for the whole team at The ICC when I say how exceptionally
pleased we are to have contributed to this success.
High-profile conference events such as this provide us with
an opportunity to demonstrate the flexibility of the venue and
commitment of the team that we bring to each and every event staged
at The ICC."
"As well as the main speeches and sessions, our teams also
looked after over 400 smaller, individual fringe meetings - ranging
in size from a dinner for 30 up to a meeting for 600 -across the
four days of the conference - roughly the same number of events
that we host at The ICC every year. We are already gearing-up
for the Conservative Party's return in 2012 and while I'm sure that
we will make that event even more outstanding that this one, we've
certainly se the bar high."
"With results such as these under our belts and through the Team
Birmingham approach it is no small wonder that Birmingham and The
ICC are now being recognised as the home of the political
conference."
For more information on Marketing Birmingham, please visit their
website here: www.marketingbirmingham.co.uk
* Event impact = economic impact + media value
Economic Impact is calculated using a formula based on
assumptions from the Visit Britain Delegate Expenditure Survey