Birmingham's International Convention Centre (ICC) has secured a
two-year contract extension with its first and longest standing
client - the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) -
to stage it's annual Congress at the venue until 2015.
The BSAVA Congress brought an estimated £14.8 million
boost to the Birmingham economy when staged at the ICC earlier this
year, which has been its preferred location since the venue opened
in April 1991.
In 2012, the BSAVA will host the association's global event
between 12 and 15 April - the World Small Animal Veterinary
Association Congress - and the recently confirmed 2015 Congress
will be its 25th at the ICC.
Stephen Torrington, General Manager of the BSAVA, said: "Our
annual Congress has expanded dramatically since we first came to
the ICC with more than 8,000 visitors attending this year alone; a
16 per cent increase from 2010.
"As the host association, next year's World Congress is of
particular importance to the BSAVA, with more than 300 lectures set
to be delivered to delegates from all parts of the world. The
flexibility of the venue and support from its team has given us no
reason to look at alternative venues and we look forward to working
with the ICC team for the foreseeable future."
The BSAVA Congress is one of the largest association events
staged at the ICC, which utilises all 10 of the venues' halls and
10 meetings room in addition to the space at its adjacent sister
site, the NIA Birmingham, which hosts the biggest veterinary
commercial exhibition in Europe as part of the programme.
The Congress also includes a gala dinner and has welcomed some
of the leading names in comedy and music as part of the
entertainment, including Michael McIntyre, Bjorn Again and Jools
Holland.
Catherine Newhall-Caiger, Business Development Director at the
ICC, said: "It's been fascinating to see the BSAVA Congress develop
over the last 20 years to the major event that we know today, and
we are honoured to be the host venue.
"To be able to celebrate our 21st year as a business by
welcoming back our first client for its World Congress is fantastic
for our team here at the ICC. We look forward to working with
everyone at the BSAVA ahead of this and staging a great event for
them once again."