An innovative ambassador programme aimed at bringing together business leaders in Liverpool and promoting the city as a world class conference and event destination has been hailed as a major success.
The Club Liverpool Programme, designed to help promote the city to the world as a high quality business location, has attracted over 80 new influential ambassadors since re-launching in January. Its success has also prompted work to begin on attracting several new major international events to the city.
The ambassadors involved represent a diverse range of sectors, all aiming to entice major national and international events to the city and attract inward investment from a global audience.
The programme is being led by Liverpool Convention Bureau, part of Liverpool Vision, in partnership with ACC Liverpool. The partners hosted a celebration with past, present and future ambassadors to thank them for their contribution to the city’s success.
Max Steinberg, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, said: “While it’s excellent the city’s tourism continues to grow, the outstanding success of its business tourism offer sometimes goes a little under the radar. The growth in the last ten years, predominantly off the opening of ACC Liverpool, is phenomenal. We have gone from being an afterthought in this market to a national heavyweight which can attract global conferences. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank the people of Liverpool who have made this possible”.
Since opening in 2008 ACC Liverpool has generated £860m to the local economy.
Steinberg added: “Delegates love coming to Liverpool because of the personality of the place – our venues have character and style, as well as all the professional facilities that conference organisers require. And, we have a lot more exciting things to come. Next year, the city will again host the International Festival for Business and at the end of this year the £66m Exhibition Centre at ACC Liverpool will open its doors, including an integrated four-star 216 room Pullman hotel”.
Lord Mayor Councillor Tony Concepcion, said: “Our ambassadors are leaders in their respective fields. More than this though, they are hard-working; donating their precious time and expertise to work with our team at the Convention Bureau and ACC to bring high-level events to Liverpool. Without this, these international conferences and events simply wouldn’t come”.
“The results of these events lead to tens of millions of pounds brought into the Liverpool economy. This funds jobs across the city region, from caterers and cleaners to receptionists and it is not just the economic benefit that comes from these conferences but also the spotlight that they shine on this city. Every time a major conference comes to the waterfront, it shows that Liverpool is serious about business as well as culture”.
Present ambassadors, George Bou-Gharios and James Gallagher, from The University of Liverpool, also shared their journey about how they recently secured a major international event to the city – discussing every step taken to influence the organising committee. The pair won the bid for the OARSI (Osteoarthritis Research Society International) World Congress to take place in Liverpool in 2018.
For more information on how you can become a Club Liverpool ambassador please visitwww.clubliverpool.co.uk or email Jane Fawley on jfawley@clubliverpool.co.uk for further details.
