Conservative conference will boost city’s coffers by £17m

BIRMINGHAM is preparing to welcome its 11th party political conference since 2008.

Some 14,000 delegates are due to descend on the city this month for the Conservative Party autumn conference at the International Convention Centre (ICC).

City marketing and tourism chiefs say the conference, which starts on September 28, will contribute £17m to the city economy.
 
Ian Taylor, commercial director of Marketing Birmingham, which operates the city’s leisure and business tourism programmes Visit and Meet Birmingham, said: “The Conservatives’ return to the city is a clear endorsement of the party’s confidence in our ability to deliver first-class events.
 
“The city attracted a record 34m visitors last year, boosting the local economy by £5.34bn. High-profile conferences bring immediate benefits for local hotels, venues and restaurants, continuing our work to raise Birmingham’s profile on a national and international stage.”
 
Birmingham will also be at the centre of political attention, with many journalists and media expected to attend the event, which will see MPs, local councillors and party members gather to debate policies that will shape the Conservative Party’s vision for the future of the country in the last conference before next year’s General Election.