Media office

The Conservative Party announced today that they will, for the first time ever, hold two autumn party conferences in Birmingham.  The events that could be worth £40M to the city will take place in 2008 and 2010.

Conservative Party Chairman Francis Maude said: “We are delighted to be bringing our main conference to England’s second city. Birmingham is one of the country’s great heartland cities representing a dynamic and cosmopolitan Britain.”
 
Cllr Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council, who has been leading efforts to bring Party Conferences to the City, said: “The decision by the Conservative Party to hold two of their conferences in Birmingham is undoubtedly confirmation of our reputation as the nation’s natural meeting place. We have an unparalleled reputation for organising first-class events and I am sure that Conservative Party Conference in 2008 and in 2010 will help enhance that reputation. This decision shows that David Cameron and the Conservative Party recognise Birmingham as the modern, progressive and welcoming city that it is. We are gaining a reputation as a global city with a local heart. I am delighted that the Conservative Party nationally are recognising what we are doing locally. We look forward to giving them a warm welcome next year."       

Marketing Birmingham, working with The NEC Group who will host the event, has been responsible for negotiating and securing the two year deal with the Conservatives.

Birmingham City Council agreed in October 2006 to increase Marketing Birmingham’s funding by £2M per annum from 2008/09 to allow it to create a new subvention fund for conferences and events.  

Neil Rami, Chief Executive of Marketing Birmingham, said: “These conferences are a massive boost for the city.  Not only will we welcome some 11,000 delegates to our hotels, restaurants, bars and shops, but there is no doubt that the timing of these events will attract an enormous national and international media presence."

In 2008 the Conservative Conference will take place at the ICC from 28th September to 1 October and in 2010 from 28 September to 6 October.

NEC Group Chief Executive, Paul Thandi, commented: “This truly is fantastic news for the city of Birmingham and reinforces The ICC’s position as the premier international conference centre within the UK.  Winning such high profile and nationally significant events as the Conservative Party Conference is incredibly important.  Birmingham will be on show for the week, so we must all ensure we deliver what we do so well, which is make events extraordinary.”

It is estimated that in delegate spend and media attention each conference could be worth some £20M to the local economy.

The timing of these events will also be important in showcasing the City’s renaissance. By the time of the Conservative Party conferences in 2008 and 2010, urban regeneration developments will have added some striking new features to the city skyline.  

One of the UK’s great classical buildings, the Grade 1 listed Town Hall will reopen after a £35m refurbishment, providing a new city centre venue for music, political debate and corporate events later this year.     

In 2009, the eagerly awaited The Cube will open. With exceptional apartments, state of the art offices, exclusive shops, waterside café bars, a boutique hotel and a panoramic rooftop restaurant, The Cube is set to become an internationally recognised building from Birmingham’s skyline.

Neil Rami, Marketing Birmingham’s Chief Executive concluded: “We are in active discussion with other major political parties and major events organisers to attract and host even more high profile events to Birmingham.”