Really excited to see that the long overdue, but fantastic, new conference venue is soon opening in Liverpool, in the year that the city will benefit from the “City of Culture” award. Some information below from the visit Liverpool site http://www.visitliverpool.com/site/product-p69941

Opening in 2008 this landmark addition to Liverpool’s famous waterfront skyline will transform Liverpool’s position as a conference destination of choice. It offers an integrated complex of a world class 10,000 seat arena linked by a glazed Galleria to the conference centre. This exceptional venue offers the flexibility, support and cutting edge technology to make your conference or event a major success.

Bordered by the magnificent waterfront setting and landscaped piazza for outdoor events and performances, the venue offers a main auditorium which can divide in minutes into three separate auditoria. A divisible multi purpose hall of 3,500 square metres, links directly to the arena core to provide a total of 7,000 square metres of exhibition space. Further meeting rooms can divide into 22 separate breakout areas meeting the individual needs of you and your delegates. All rooms will be equipped with the latest telecommunications and data network, cabling infrastructure, wireless LAN and digital audio visual facilities.

This exciting new business and leisure destination includes on site hotel accommodation of approximately 300 rooms, together with retail and leisure facilities to cater for the needs of conference delegates. A direct pedestrian link along the riverfront provides access to the range of hotels at Albert Dock and Princes Dock just a few minutes away.

1600 car parking spaces are available on site and all parts of the city centre are within walking distance, including Lime Street railway station. Frequent access to Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool will be available via the proposed Merseytram network, and the expansion of Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport, the fastest growing airport in the UK, will offer a rapidly increasing number of national and international air links.

No doubt our venue finding department will enjoy offering an alternative in the North West to Manchester Central (formerly MICC), albeit a great venue, but in need of healthy competition for the sake of the industry.

I was in Liverpool recently and can’t believe the development that’s going on in the city. For those of you that have never been, forget “Boys from the Black Stuff” this really is one of Europe’s most exciting and architecturally beautiful cities. And of course Liverpool FC will kick things off this year by winning the Champions League, again!!!!!!

Loads of exciting “non-football” stuff going of course in 2008. Lots of information here http://www.liverpool08.com/ .

Really looking forward to The Conference People managing conferences and events in Liverpool next year.