Albert Dock Liverpool is to open a new pop-up Welcome Centre to showcase the Dock’s many attrac- tions, restaurants, bars, shops and cafes to the thousands of national and international delegates who will converge on the city for the International Festival for Business (IFB 2014).

Following a five figure investment from the Albert Dock Estate, the Albert Dock Welcome Centre, which is officially supporting IFB 2014, will be located at the main Albert Dock gate on The Strand, and will have a team from Liverpool’s Tourist Information Centres as well as IFB 2014 volunteers, to provide delegates and tourists with essential information about the city. The Dock’s Rubens Coffee Shop will also provide coffees, teas and pastries, with a seated lounge area ideal for guests to relax and unwind.

The centre, designed and built by Liverpool-based brand and digital communications agency, Bolland & Lowe, will remain open throughout the summer, which is shaping up to be a very exciting period for Al- bert Dock. During 2014, the Dock will be alive with events including Tate Liverpool’s new summer exhi- bition, Mondrian and his Studios, Armed Forces Day on June 28, and the return of the Red Bull Harbour Reach on August 30.

The Dock will also be at the heart of the International Mersey River Festival and Music on the Water- front event from June 13-15, and has a co-commission by Liverpool Biennial, Tate Liverpool and 1418 Now Centenary Art Commissions. Merseyside Maritime Museum’s historic pilot ship, Edmund Gardner, will be “dazzled” by artist Carlos Cruz-Diez, and launched on June 12. And as the summer holidays be- gin the Dock will play a key role in the return of the Giants to the city.

Sue Grindrod, chair of Albert Dock Estate, said:

”Our ambition was to create a front of house hub that would not only support the Albert Dock business- es, but also provide a vital point of information and welcome for Albert Dock and our city partners during IFB 2014 and the summer. IFB 2014 is such an amazing opportunity for Liverpool to shine on a global stage, and our investment demonstrates the Dock’s commitment in helping to make this happen.”

Peter Cronin, director of development and marketing for Albert Dock Liverpool, added: page1image22176

“We would like to thank IFB 2014, the TIC and the Albert Dock tenants for their support in the centre’s creation, and we look forward to greeting the many visitors to the Dock and to Liverpool during this very exciting year.”

Chris Brown, director of Marketing Liverpool, said:

“With so much going on in Liverpool this summer, it’s crucial that visitors have as many sources of in- formation as possible. As well as ensuring our digital channels are informative and easy to use, a phys- ical presence is very important. This Welcome Centre is exactly what is needed at the entrance to one of Liverpool’s most enduring attractions, which will be on many visitors’ itineraries this summer.”

The Albert Dock Welcome Centre supporting IFB 2014, which will be perfectly located close to the IFB hub on Mann Island, Liverpool ONE and the ACC, will also include space for the Dock tenants to dis- play exhibitions, offers and retail samples, while the full centre will be available to hire for seminars and meetings during IFB 2014.