Liverpool Convention Bureau shares why the city is the perfect location to host your next event.
It’s not hard to see why Liverpool is a popular destination to hold conferences and events. Offering a rich cultural heritage, lively atmosphere and a wide range of facilities, it’s the perfect place for events of every shape and size. Reasons that no doubt contributed to the decision that Liverpool would be given Eurovision Song Contest hosting duties on behalf of Ukraine in 2023 – and to great success!
The city is no stranger to welcoming a range of unique events to its Mersey shores. Over the last few years, the city region has offered its hosting facilities to The Turner Prize competition at
Tate Liverpool, the World Gymnastics Championships 2022 and the Labour Party Conference at ACC Liverpool and a food and drink festival to venues across the city.
2024 shows no signs of slowing down either as the city welcomes The Randox Grand National festival to Aintree Racecourse, Comic Con Liverpool to ACC Liverpool, Taylor Swift to Anfield Stadium, and River of Light to the city’s waterfront.
Aside from the cultural events offering, incredible things happen across the region for a broad range of conferences. Liverpool has a large selection of modern conference venues, hotels, exhibition spaces and unique venues that can accommodate events of all sizes. Looking for an event space in an historic building? We’ve got them to spare. A meeting in the healthiest building in the North West? The Spine is for you. With experts working across the sector owning years of experience and knowledge in what will work best for your event, you’re in safe hands.
Venues range from ACC Liverpool which includes the Exhibition Centre and 11,000 capacity M&S Bank Arena, who are looking forward to hosting a range of conferences in 2024 including The 62nd Annual European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Meeting and Annual Scientific Meeting of the British Gynaecological Cancer Society. RCP Spaces at the Spine in the Knowledge Quarter will welcome the British Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine Conference, and Symposium of the European Low Gravity Research Association. While Liverpool Cathedral, Anfield Stadium, National Museums Liverpool and the University of Liverpool have also hosted a diverse selection of events in 2023 with more planned for the years ahead.
An ideal destination for conferences in specific fields such as infectious diseases, children’s health, veterinary science, gaming and tech, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing, the city is also known as a sporting city, home to Aintree Racecourse, part of England’s Golf Coast and two major football clubs, Liverpool and Everton, with Everton’s brand-new stadium currently in development. There is also a rich history of maritime trade and is home to major research institutions such as the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Ambassadors involved in the Club Liverpool programme share their expertise in these fields and use their passion to help bring more events and conferences to the city.
Getting to and navigating around the city region is also a selling point for the destination. Liverpool John Lennon Airport is conveniently located 30 minutes from the city centre and offers many direct flights around Europe. Manchester Airport also services the city with long haul flights and is only 40 minutes from the centre. The walkability factor of Liverpool is a huge selling point too. Taking only 25 minutes to walk across the city; train stations, hotels, restaurants, venues, and visitor attractions are all within easy distance of each other making your time in the city accessible and sustainable. Talking about sustainability, Liverpool was named as ‘Most Improved Destination’ at the Global Destination Sustainability Movement in 2023 so is a great location for sustainably minded travel.
Furthermore, the cost of accommodation, food, and transportation are generally lower in Liverpool than in other major UK cities, making it a more affordable option for conference organisers and attendees.
Whether delegates are looking for luxury or budget, there is something for everyone.
It’s not just all about the hard work either. A vast collection of activities for delegates to enjoy in their downtime adds to the attractiveness as an event destination, with plenty of opportunities for sightseeing and cultural exploration. Famous for its music, art, architecture, The Beatles and a thriving selection of food and drink venues, conference organisers and delegates can relax in downtime or explore what the city region has to offer.
New venues including, The Municipal Hotel MGallery, The Halyard Hotel, The Maldron Hotel, Flight Club and BOXPARK will be hot spots to check out in 2024, whilst new venues, Gaucho, Hawksmoor, Gravity MAX and Albert’s Schloss make for great additions to any itinerary.
You can find out more about the services Liverpool Convention Bureau provides here: Visitliverpool.com/liverpool- convention-bureau/