Liverpool gives AIPC a record welcome
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The Association of International Congress Centres (AIPC) posted a record attendance at its annual conference held in Liverpool this week.
Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool chief executive, Bob Prattey, welcomed over 190 delegates made up of the leaders of the world’s leading convention centres and said: “Record numbers are not an unusual trend for events taking place here”.
AIPC president Edgar Hirt opened the conference, which focused this year on the development process. The ongoing impact of the global recession on convention business provided the backdrop to debate and the keynote sessions were delivered by leading economic editors Hamish MacRae and Will Hutton.
Hirt reminded delegates that with over 70 per cent of AIPC members owned by some level of government, “we are on the front line”.
“There was,” said Hirt, “an increasing reluctance of government to invest in public facilities”.
AIPC communications director Rod Cameron told delegates the focus this year was “how to generate the greatest value for delegates”.
A major survey presented by MD of Red 7 Media, Michael Hughes, nevertheless, showed the resilience of the convention industry, with centres reporting, on average top line revenue growth of four per cent over the year to June 2010. Regional differences in pace of growth were evident, with Asia pushing ahead over 12 per cent, while Europe and North America were averaging growth in their convention businesses by 2.4 per cent and 1.4 per cent respectively.
Fifty nine per cent of venues have either completed a major expansion or refurbishment project over the past three years or were soon to embark on one, according to the survey of AIPC research.
Although only 20 per cent of the world’s convention centres surveyed are privately owned, 52 per cent are run by private groups.
The AIPC APEX Award for excellence in 2010 went to Valencia Convention Centre, at a ceremony in Liverpool Town Hall.
Delegates were also taken to Knowsley Hall, home of Lord Derby. The conference and AIPC’s 51st General Assembly continues until 7 July.
6 July 10
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