The ICC wins three-year deal with AOC

27th Oct 2010

BIRMINGHAM’S International Convention Centre has beaten strong competition from its major UK rivals to secure a new three-year contract and strengthen its position as the country’s leading conference venue.

The ICC defied strong competition from ACC Liverpool, Excel London and Manchester Central to keep the Association of Colleges’ (AoC) three-day annual conference at the venue until 2013.

Organiser AoC Create, which has been holding the event at The ICC since 2000, cited the venue’s central location and flexibility, alongside the management team’s experience and creative approach, as decisive factors.

Des O’Hare, director of AoC Create, said: “As several new venues have entered the market over the last few years, we felt that this was the right time to ensure that we were providing our delegates with the best possible value through the conference. Having examined a number of alternative venues, we felt that the location, flexibility, and professional service at The ICC continue to provide us with a perfect combination for a successful event.”

Geoff Fenlon, general manager of The ICC, said: “While we have a long-standing relationship with the AoC, we understand all associations need to ensure that they are providing their members with the best possible value. I am extremely happy to see that after sampling what our competitors have to offer, the AoC has not only returned to The ICC, but has shown such a tremendous degree of confidence in us.”

He said the NEC Group, which manages the ICC, had worked closely with its partners across the city including Marketing Birmingham and local hoteliers to develop the conference package.

“One again (this) proves the value of our Team Birmingham approach. I know I speak for everyone here when I say how pleased we are and that we’re all looking forward to hosting the AoC Annual Conference & Exhibition for the next three years,” he added.

Since first locating to The ICC in 2000, the AoC Annual Conference has grown and developed each year and now occupies every one of the venue’s 11 halls and 10 executive meeting rooms.

Alongside the plenary sessions, this year’s conference, which takes place between November 15-18, will also feature a large exhibition in The ICC’s Hall 3, a move which proved successful at the recent Conservative Party Conference.

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