Press releases

Marketing Birmingham has announced that it has entered into a new three year Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Birmingham City Council.

The city’s destination marketing agency made the announcement at its Annual General Meeting today [Tuesday] where it outlined its strong performance over the last three years, having achieved a return on investment of 19:1 against a 10:1 target, measured against key performance indicators including visitor numbers, perceptions scores, media coverage, events and economic impact.

It referenced its annual perceptions survey which has shown an increase in the number of people who consider Birmingham as a great place to visit from 41% - 49% over the three year period, and an increase in the number of people who consider Birmingham as a great place to do business from 47% - 58%.

As a result, the Council has increased the organisation’s funding from £2 million to £4 million per annum, with the aim of attracting more major events to the city.

The meeting was also used to announce the appointment of five new directors to the Marketing Birmingham board since the company’s last AGM.  They are Paul Thandi, Chief Executive of The NEC Group, Professor David Tidmarsh, Vice Chancellor at Birmingham City University, Crawford Rix, Managing Director of bmibaby, Rachel Kavanaugh, Artistic Director at Birmingham REP, and Steve Brown, Regional Managing Director of Trinity Mirror North East and Midlands Regions.

Ian Squires, Chairman of Marketing Birmingham said:  “The last three years have been very successful for Marketing Birmingham and we have exceeded all targets set by Birmingham City Council.

“We have built a business model that is working well for the city and we start the new financial year with a clear vision of promoting Birmingham as a place to visit and a place to meet.

“In the last twelve months we have secured three major political party conferences for the city, as well as major international association conferences including the Rotary International Convention in its centenary year 2009, demonstrating the importance of our additional funding in supporting such events which bring with them significant economic impact and international media exposure.”

Marketing Birmingham is a Public-Private Partnership, in which Birmingham City Council is a 49% shareholder.  The company is also supported by some 360 Commercial Members and Champions, ranging from bars, restaurants and hotels to universities, accountancy firms and commercial property developers.

Cllr Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council said:  “People's perception of our city is a hugely important part of our vision of a global city with a local heart and that is why as a partner and major investor we are increasing our funding to £4 million in order for Birmingham City Council and Marketing Birmingham to work together to improve perceptions.”

Business tourism is an essential economic driver in the West Midlands, with the events industry worth an estimated £2.3bn in Birmingham alone, an increase of £3 million from the previous twelve months.  

Marketing Birmingham took on the remit of promoting Birmingham and the region for business tourism almost three years ago and delivered on time and within budget.  Advantage West Midlands (AWM) has now doubled the budget and re-appointed Marketing Birmingham to run the project for the next three years.

John Edwards, outgoing Chief Executive of AWM said:  “Marketing Birmingham has been working closely with regional partners to assist AWM in delivering its visitor economy outputs.  The organisation’s input has been invaluable and I have no doubt that the region’s profile and economy will continue to go from strength to strength over the next three years.”

Neil Rami, Chief Executive of Marketing Birmingham said:  “We start the next three year period from an excellent position, with a new leisure tourism campaign launching in June and a business tourism campaign launching later this month.

“Events will continue to be an increasingly important focus for us in both the leisure and business arenas, with new concepts such as Taste of Birmingham and Style in the City having set a precedent for Birmingham as a global events city and we are also in discussions to stage a major new sporting event next year.

“I would like to thank the City Council and AWM for their continued support and look forward to improving city perceptions further and attracting more and more people to Birmingham to live, work and visit.”

ENDS

Marketing Birmingham Key Facts

• Media – Marketing Birmingham secured media coverage worth in excess of £4 million from April 2007 to March 2008.  From Glasgow to Singapore, more than 200 journalists visited Birmingham last year, from eight different countries, in 86 media visits hosted by Marketing Birmingham to promote Birmingham as a premier business and leisure destination.

• Awards - In 2007 the company won the Purple Apple Award for ‘Best Strategic Marketing Campaign’ from the British Council of Shopping Centres for the “Unbelievable” Christmas campaign and Gold Award for ‘Best Print Advertising Campaign’ at the Meetings Industry Marketing Awards.  The achievements of the PR team were recognised by the professional body Chartered Institute of Public Relations and scooped two awards - gold for ‘Best Integrated Campaign for Birmingham Bites’ and silver for ‘Outstanding In-house PR Team in the Midlands.’

Download Marketing_Birmingham_AGM (.pdf 48.91 KB)