A nation of shopkeepers heads for city conference

Nov 20 2007 by Staff Reporter, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL will host one of its biggest-ever conferences when retail bosses from all over the UK head for the Echo Arena Liverpool for the British Council of Shopping Centres meeting.

More than 3,000 delegates are expected for the annual conference of retail property organisation BCSC from November 10-12 next year.

The event was held in Newcastle recently, attracting speakers Sir Bob Geldof and Sebastian Coe, and its members include retailers, developers, landlords, local authority executives and others involved in the retail industry.

Last night Martin King, director of tourism at The Mersey Partnership, said: “This is one of the biggest trade shows that has ever been to the Liverpool city region and we are delighted they have chosen to come here.

“We have already seen an unprecedented demand for hotel rooms and look forward to welcoming them to the city and showing them what we have to offer during such an exciting year.”

Council leader Warren Bradley said: “It is particularly appropriate that the organisation should come to Liverpool in the same year that Grosvenor's £1bn Liverpool One opens, a development on course to propelŠ the city's own retail offering into the top five in the UK by 2010.”

Chief executive of BCSC, Michael Green said: “Liverpool is set to become a spotlight destination not only as the European City of Culture for 2008 but also as a major centre of retail, leisure and lifestyle development.

“I’m delighted that we are bringing our seminal industry event to the city and we look forward to seeing and experiencing what Liverpool has to offer in what is likely to be a memorable year for all of us.”

The Echo Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool at the King’s Waterfront will open in January 2008.

Jacquie Rogers, Convention Centre general manager, said: “It is fantastic news for ACC Liverpool and for the city itself that organisations of this calibre are choosing us.

“The size of this particular event demonstrates just how flexible ACC Liverpool is – in this case, use will be made not just of the convention centre, but also the adjoining Echo Arena, Liverpool. Being able to host an event like this really puts ACC Liverpool up there in the top flight.”