Liverpool hospitality industry expects £15m Labour conference boost

Hotels, restaurants and bars across Liverpool are expecting huge revenue over the coming days with the Labour Party Annual Conference about to take place in the city for the first time.

Liverpool is set for a £15m economic boost from the event, which welcomes 11,000 delegates and 2,000 journalists to the city over five days beginning on 25 September.

Bob Prattey, chief executive of ACC Liverpool, which is hosting the event, said: “It is hard to put a price on the huge value of this event in terms of the exposure that it gives not just our venue, but Liverpool as a whole.

In the planning stages for 20 months, the political conference represents the largest ever event to be held at ACC Liverpool and brings the venue’s total contribution to the city’s economy to £500m since it opened in 2008.

“It sends out a clear message that ACC Liverpool is in the premier league of conference venues,” added Prattey. “It demonstrates why we are looking to build on that success by developing a new state of the art exhibition centre on the site by 2014.”

Carol O’Reilly, Liverpool convention bureau manager, added: “This high-profile event will be a fantastic showcase for Liverpool and all that it can offer to delegates and conference organisers. Everyone involved with the conference is looking forward to extending the famous ‘Liverpool welcome’ to the attendees over the next week.”

The venue will operate at full capacity during the five day conference, with over 1,200 staff in place to ensure the smooth running of the event.

Award-winning catering group Heathcotes is expected to pour up to 60,000 cups of tea and coffee and will be serving up locally-sourced English breakfasts.