Press releases

The Conservative Party has announced that they will hold their autumn party conference in Birmingham in 2012.  The event will be the third Conservative Party Conference to be hosted in the city and is currently scheduled for 8-11 October 2012.

Marketing Birmingham and The NEC Group have been responsible for negotiating and securing the deal with the Conservatives.

The conference – the sixth political event to be staged in Birmingham over the last five years – is expected to deliver a considerable economic impact for the city.  The decision to bring the conference back to Birmingham is largely due to the positive feedback from delegates who attended the 2008 Conference, also staged at The ICC.

A comprehensive delivery team was established for that event which included representatives from Birmingham City Council, Birmingham International Airport, Broad Street BID, Brindleyplace, Centro, Network Rail, Chiltern Railways and West Midlands Police.  Operational support was provided for the duration of the event by the team at the ICC and Birmingham Convention Bureau.

Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council, today welcomed the announcement:

“The decision by the Conservative Party to hold a third conference in Birmingham, with success in 2008, followed up by 2010 and now 2012, is undoubtedly confirmation of our reputation as the UK’s natural meeting place for political conferences. I am confident that the Conservative Party Conference in 2012 will enhance that reputation.

“The Conference not only has an economic impact on Birmingham - the 2008 Conservative Party conference contributed £28 million in economic and media impact to Birmingham- but brings to our city some of Britain’s most powerful politicians and civil servants who will help shape policy affecting the next 20 years, and understand the role our city can play in complimenting that agenda. As we’ve seen with the High Speed Two announcement recently, Birmingham continues to be at the centre of national economic debate.

“The city will also feature prominently on the international stage with the US and Jamaican teams training in Birmingham for the Olympics. Together with the Conservative Party conference, this ensures 2012 will bring real economic and reputational enhancement to our city.”

Eric Pickles, the Chairman of the Conservative Party, said:

“We’re delighted to be returning to Birmingham for our autumn conference in 2012. Birmingham proved to us in 2008 that it has an exceptional conference venue in the ICC and Symphony Hall, a good range of accommodation and a well developed transport infrastructure.  Whilst these are all important issues for our delegates it was the welcome we received that made a lasting impression.  Birmingham clearly goes the extra mile to look after its visitors and we are looking forward to being there both later this year and in 2012.

Neil Rami, Chief Executive of Marketing Birmingham, added: 

“It is great news that we’ve reached an agreement with the Conservative Party to return in 2012, against some stiff competition.  This will be the sixth political conference Birmingham has hosted in five years and is a clear sign of the confidence that the major political parties now have in the city’s ability to deliver a world-class event. 

“The positive impact of a conference such as this cannot be underestimated.  The 2008 Conservative Party conference contributed £28 million in economic and media impact to Birmingham.  Not only will we welcome some 11,000 delegates to our hotels, restaurants, bars and shops, but it is likely that the timing of both the 2010 and 2012 events will attract considerable national and international media attention.”     
    
NEC Group Chief Executive, Paul Thandi, commented: 

“I am really pleased to be able to welcome the Conservative Party Conference back to The ICC and the city of Birmingham.  The return of this conference reinforces The ICC’s position as the premier international conference centre in the UK.  

“By securing outstanding, high-profile national events such as these we are building on the success that we have enjoyed in 2009 and the hard work of the last five years in repositioning The NEC Group as a leading brand, recognised both nationally and internationally. I am sure that by working together we will deliver a successful event.”