Exhibition Centre Liverpool, the latest addition to ACC Liverpool, has secured its first international conference and exhibition.
The European Association for International Education (EAIE) has confirmed it will hold its annual conference at the new complex from September 12 -16 2016.
The event, which is the largest international higher education conference in Europe, will bring 5,500 delegates over five days with more expected to attend an attached exhibition. It is set to generate £9.4m in economic benefit to the city region.
ACC Liverpool, already home to BT Convention Centre and Echo Arena, worked closely with the University of Liverpool to secure the event which brings together leaders and decision makers in international higher education. A total of 5,000 higher education professionals from 90 countries attended this year’s event in Prague in September. It included more than 170 sessions, 29 workshops, networking events and 200 exhibitors. Previous locations include Istanbul.
Kerrin MacPhie, director of sales of ACC Liverpool, said: “We are delighted to announce this large global event which comes as a result of the relationships we have been building in the international conference market over the past four years.
“The event will use all venues within the ACC Liverpool family portfolio – BT Convention Centre, Echo Arena and Exhibition Centre Liverpool – so our entire venue will be utilised for this event. Some delegates will have the opportunity to stay in our new integrated four-star, 216 bedroom Pullman hotel which is part of the new development.
“We already have a strong track record in delivering national and international conferences and associated exhibitions at ACC Liverpool, our increased capacity enables us to host large-scale conferences and exhibitions such as EAIE, it is exciting to consider the opportunities open to us in this market.
“We look forward to welcoming EAIE and its thousands of delegates from across the world.”
Christine Bateman, head of international development at University of Liverpool said securing EAIE is an example of city partners working together to bring key events and revenue into the city.
She said: “The EAIE annual conference provides an invaluable opportunity for higher education professionals to share knowledge in order to enhance international education.
“We are fortunate to have three universities in Liverpool which have all worked together, along with ACC Liverpool, to secure this event. To be able to meet with peers from all over the world and share what we have on our doorstep is fantastic. This would not have been possible without Exhibition Centre Liverpool and the expansion of ACC Liverpool.”
Exhibition Centre Liverpool will be open for business in September 2015. Confirmed trade shows include the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers FPS Expo; RenewableUK is among national conferences already contracted.
Emma Bellis, head of Liverpool Convention Bureau, said: “The European Association for International Education is a tremendous win for the city of Liverpool; an event which both increases the city’s profile and provides a massive immediate economic impact. As the first event to make use of the largest interlinked facility in the UK, I’m sure it’s a sign of things to come with the opening of Exhibition Centre Liverpool.
“Liverpool is bold about its conference offer, and the opening of this magnificent facility is a statement of intent which conference organisers around the world have taken note of.”
The news comes as ACC Liverpool and Liverpool Convention Bureau exhibit at Barcelona trade show EIBTM. The team will provide updates about the city and the venue, including the latest news about Exhibition Centre Liverpool.
The exhibition centre will provide an additional 8,100 sqm of exhibition space at ACC Liverpool, doubling the size of the venue and increasing the existing 7,125 sqm to 15,225 sqm of integrated and flexible event space. It will be directly connected to the existing facilities, via a covered bridge link, making the venue the only purpose-built interconnected arena, convention and exhibition centre in Europe. It will propel the region into the country’s most exciting destination for consumer and trade exhibitions; global conferences; concerts and international sporting events.
In its first year of operation, it is expected to host about 50 events and attract more than 250,000 visitors. A topping out ceremony was held recently to signify the final section of the roof of the exhibition centre and hotel being manoeuvred into place.
