Conservative Party Conference to generate £24.6m for Manchester’s economy

The upcoming Conservative Party Conference, being held at Manchester Central between September 29 and October 2, will attract around 12,000 delegates and be the third Tory conference in the city since 2009.

Marketing Manchester, the agency charged with promoting the city, calculates the total economic impact of the conference to be £24.6m. Business tourism generates £822m a year for the Greater Manchester economy.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: "Manchester has firmly established itself as a major conference destination and we are pleased that the Conservatives have chosen to return to our great city. Large-scale conferences such as this represent a significant boost to the city in both economic and reputational terms."

Andrew Stokes, Chief Executive of Manchester Central, says: "In addition to the media coverage political party conferences attract, which helps boost the profile of the city around the world, there is also a real, financial benefit to local businesses in terms of the money spent by delegates, exhibitors and service partners."

Many of the 12,000 delegates will spend three nights in one of the city-region’s hotels or serviced apartments while restaurants and bars will benefit from the programme of fringe events being held across Manchester.