The Blackpool Conference and Exhibition Centre has announced today that in its first 12 months of operating, it welcomed 55,000 delegates through its doors and generated, alongside Winter Gardens Blackpool, in excess of £70m in economic benefit, contributing to Blackpool’s overall visitor economy which is valued at more than £1.58bn.
Events that took place at the venue in 2022 included the Conservative Party Spring Conference – the region’s first political party conference since 2007 – and the Trade Union Conference, plus events organised by the Society of British Neurological Surgeons, the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, and the Ethically-Powered Data Event by Lancaster University, which saw a multi-sector discussion on how to drive a sustainable revolution in Blackpool.
The £30 million purpose-built venue opened its doors in March 2022. The high-tech, high-spec venue merges seamlessly with the magnificent architecture of the historic Winter Gardens Blackpool, and this year is expected to welcome well over 63,000 delegates.
The news comes as Meet Blackpool, the town’s conference and exhibition arm, which launched in June 2022, unveils a new logo and branding as part of its recently announced £450,000 marketing and communications campaign. The stylish new branding elevates the organisation’s ‘Business in Blackpool, always a pleasure’ strapline, drawing on typography found in Blackpool’s vintage signwriting, and the town’s heritage as Britain’s best-loved seaside resort. The branding will be used in advertising and at business events tradeshows across the country and will help raise Meet Blackpool’s profile so that it can build on recent successes and attract more high-profile events to the town.
Julie Vincent, Head of Meet Blackpool, said: “It’s been an exciting year for business events in Blackpool as we’ve launched both the new conference centre and our dedicated conference and exhibition arm. We’re extremely proud of how we’ve navigated our first 12 months of trading, especially during a tentative post-Covid period. With the support of our partners, and through the hard work of our dedicated team who are the true champions of Blackpool, we’ve achieved some incredible things in the past year that will leave a lasting mark on the town’s business events history.
“We’re now looking forward at how we can expand on that core offering to enhance the delegate experience and put Blackpool on the meeting and events map. There are some exciting developments on the horizon, both in terms of our resort’s upcoming events as well as the work we’re planning with our partners. We’re working hard to leverage Blackpool’s forward-thinking technology, infrastructure, culture and sector specialisms, as while Blackpool for many conjures up nostalgic childhood memories, for us it also represents a vibrant and innovative hub of redevelopment and movement with a bright future ahead – that’s why business in Blackpool is always a pleasure.”
For more information visit: www.meetblackpool.com
