Conservative Party Conference brings unprecedented event impact for Birmingham

14th Oct 2010

Conference injects over £18.4 million into the local economy, and media value across print, broadcast and online is nearly £29 million

The Conservative Party’s landmark autumn conference – its first since taking power – has had a major event impact* for Birmingham. The city’s economy was boosted by £18,400,000 as delegates converged on Birmingham for the Conference, held at The ICC Birmingham on 3 – 6 October 2010. The city also welcomed over 2,000 of the world’s media who helped generate global coverage with media value of £28,881,000.

The total event impact has surpassed all expectations, and is nearly 75 per cent more than was achieved the last time the Conservatives held a party conference in Birmingham in 2008 (£28 million). The conference also attracted twice the number of journalists than the last conference here (1000 journalists registered in 2008).

The partnership – or Team Birmingham – approach was also evidenced by the Fringe Programme of 12 events that spanned the arts, business, transport, health, digital media, science and technology. 800 delegates attended the Birmingham Fringe events.

Leader of Birmingham Council, Cllr Mike Whitby said:
“As today’s figures show, the Conservative Party Conference provided a huge economic benefit to the city and to our local businesses. I am particularly impressed by the amount of positive media coverage, national and international, Birmingham received, enabling us to showcase what Birmingham has to offer not only as a conference venue but as a destination city. Combined with the opportunity it presented to outline Birmingham’s case to the top tiers of the government, Birmingham has successfully putting itself at the heart of the news and policy agenda.”

Ian Taylor, Commercial Director, Marketing Birmingham, commented:
“Birmingham has built huge momentum as a host for major high profile events and this is evidenced by the Conservative Party Conference, the first time the city has hosted a major autumn conference for the party in power. The fact that this is their first conference since being in government no doubt boosted the delegate numbers and media profile considerably – but the city simply stepped up to the plate, worked together in partnership, and delivered the conference without a hitch. This has truly cemented our position as the conference city of Europe.”

Geoff Fenlon, General Manager, The ICC Birmingham, said:

“These results are absolutely staggering and I know that I speak for the whole team at The ICC when I say how exceptionally pleased we are to have contributed to this success. High-profile conference events such as this provide us with an opportunity to demonstrate the flexibility of the venue and commitment of the team that we bring to each and every event staged at The ICC.”
“As well as the main speeches and sessions, our teams also looked after over 400 smaller, individual fringe meetings – ranging in size from a dinner for 30 up to a meeting for 600 -across the four days of the conference – roughly the same number of events that we host at The ICC every year. We are already gearing-up for the Conservative Party’s return in 2012 and while I’m sure that we will make that event even more outstanding that this one, we’ve certainly se the bar high.”
“With results such as these under our belts and through the Team Birmingham approach it is no small wonder that Birmingham and The ICC are now being recognised as the home of the political conference.”