Labour conference to boost city with £15m

Liverpool's economy is set for a £15m boost when the Labour Party Conference arrives to the city in September, according to The Mersey Partnership.

The conference, arriving to Liverpool for the first time, is expected to attract more than 11,000 delegates and visitors over five days between 25 and 29 September.

The city region's tourist board said 500 fringe meetings, debates and discussions will take place at venues across the city, while bars, restaurants, hotels and shops are all expected to benefit.

TMP added that more than 2,000 journalists including national broadcasters and print and online media, will report on the conference.

Television programmes will be broadcast live from the Arena & Convention Centre Liverpool, where the main conference is being held, including the BBC's Newsnight and Andrew Marr shows.

TMP said the Labour Party Conference will be bigger than last year's Liberal Democrat event, which it said delivered £10m to the city's economy.

Bob Prattey, chief executive of ACC Liverpool, said: "It is hard to put a price on the huge value of this event in terms of the exposure that it gives not just our venue, but Liverpool as a whole.

"It sends out a clear message that we are in the premier league of conference venues, and demonstrates why we are looking to build on that success by developing a new state-of-the-art Exhibition Centre here on the site by 2014."

TMP said public and private sector organisations in the city are working closely together to make sure the thousands of delegates have the best possible experience while they are in Liverpool, and volunteers will be on hand to guide and direct delegates when they arrive.

One of the city's newest hotels to open in 2011, Days Inn Liverpool, said in February it was already full for the event.

Lorraine Rogers, chief executive of The Mersey Partnership, said: "The ongoing development of quality new hotels gives the City Region the resources to welcome such large numbers. It's not just about the five days of the Conference – if delegates have the best possible experience then they will return at a later date as a visitor."

Residents and businesses located near to the Liverpool ACC are being reminded they could face disruption with road closures during the conference.

• Further information is available on the council's website here