Conference boost to city worth £29m
THE Conservative Party Annual Conference is expected to generate £29m for the local economy when it returns to Manchester soon.
Prime Minister David Cameron, the cabinet, Conservative MPs and around 12,000 delegates and exhibitors will meet at Manchester Central from Sunday October 4 to Wednesday October 7.
It will be the fourth conference to take place in Manchester since 2009. The conference and extensive programme of fringe events will provide a boost to hotels, restaurants, attractions and bars across the city.
Andrew Stokes, chief executive of Marketing Manchester, part of the Manchester Growth Company, said: “We are proud to be welcoming our first major political party conference after the general election.
“The Northern Powerhouse is firmly on the political agenda and this is an opportunity to showcase the best Manchester has to offer. As well as boosting our city’s profile the conference will also boost its economy as delegates and exhibitors spend in our hotels, bars, restaurants and shops.”
Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said: “Manchester’s status as a host city for major events has been firmly established in recent years, whether it’s cultural and sporting spectaculars or political conferences such as this or the Labour Party Conference.
“Large scale events such as this represent a significant boost to the city both in economic and reputational terms. I’m glad that thousands more delegates will have the opportunity to experience what Manchester has to offer.”
Manchester Central chief executive Angie Robinson said: “The team at Manchester Central has nearly 10 years’ experience in putting on highly successful party conferences and is primed to deliver another outstanding event for the Conservative Party.
“The venue will well and truly be under the media spotlight and we’re looking forward to showing off the very best that Manchester Central and the wider city has to offer.”
Business tourism generated £823m in 2013 for the Greater Manchester economy. It also supports Greater Manchester’s £7bn tourism industry attracting more than 109 million visits per year and supporting 88,915 jobs.
