Between the BT Convention Centre, Echo Arena and Exhibition Centre Liverpool there were 210 events attracting more than 500,000 delegates and visitors. Tony McDonough reports.
Annual revenues at the company behind Liverpool’s waterfront arena, convention and exhibition complex have hit a record £17.2m.
ACC Liverpool says the figure, for the 12 months to March 31, is up from the £16.1m the previous year and is the best since it opened in 2008.
The group reported an operating loss of £2.7m but chief executive Bob Prattey says this was due to delays in completion of new facilities including Exhibition Centre Liverpool and the on-site Pullman Hotel.
Between the BT Convention Centre, Echo Arena and Exhibition Centre Liverpool there were 210 events attracting more than 500,000 delegates and visitors.
The benefit to the wider Liverpool city region economy was estimated at £128m – making a total of £1.2bn since the complex opened.
Conference highlights included NHS Confederation, the British Psychological Society and a series of international congresses while Sir Paul McCartney, Strictly Come Dancing and the launch of the Liverpool International Horse Show were among entertainment events.
Exhibition Centre Liverpool, the latest addition to the campus which opened in September last year, hosted 19 exhibitions including MCM Liverpool Comic Con, The Liverpool Wedding Show and RenewableUK.
Mr Prattey said: “The financial year from was a year of rapid growth for the ACC Liverpool Group with the opening of Exhibition Centre Liverpool in September 2015 and Pullman Liverpool in February 2016.
“This expansion has enabled us to enhance our facilities and host bigger and better exhibitions, national and international conferences and entertainment events, thus contributing more economic benefit to the local economy.
“We incurred extended pre-opening costs which were set against only part year trading – in the financial year 2015-16 the hotel only traded for 50 days and Exhibition Centre Liverpool for six months.
“We are forecasting a further increase in revenues and a return to overall group trading profit as we retain existing events and bolster the programme with major events such as the British Style Collective presented by The Clothes Show.”