Heather Lisham, Association Director of ABPCO, discusses why Manchester is a fantastic event hub ahead of holding the organisation’s flagship event there in December.
Manchester is known as the UK’s second city (and many would argue now that it’s the first), and a more diverse, dynamic, creative and exciting place you will not find in this country. So, the team at ABPCO are delighted to be taking this year’s Excellence Awards to Manchester Central in December 2025. This is an incredible venue, which is extremely aspirational and very popular in our industry – and we’re all very excited about this year’s event.
Emily Bexley (and her team at Manchester Central) displayed everything that’s positive about collaboration and partnership when they forwarded an outstanding proposal in a bid to win the Excellence Awards. Having clarity around your audience and being prepared to communicate effectively and openly are all part of a successful pitch. A unique element of their pitch which we really favoured was how this team had incorporated a number of additional local stakeholders who were keen to showcase the city.
ABPCO likes to move its flagship events around the country, to support our national industry and to showcase the venues that our members will want to use. Manchester has so much to offer in terms of accessibility (rail, road and air), a truly comprehensive choice of stand-alone venues – literally all shapes, sizes, styles and prices, and a range of hotel stock that is the envy of the world.
With one leg in the past, and the other firmly in the future, this sassy city with style and attitude offers diversity of culture, lashings of creativity and a bunch of folks that have ‘can do’ written on their chests.
With the Excellence Awards we bring over 180 event planners – from Directors to industry Newbies – all of whom will enjoy their immersion in this wonderful place. The Manchester Central Team and Associates know this is a fine opportunity to draw in and boost business events across the city, and they are working hard to showcase the glories of this amazing place.
This will be the biggest and best ABPCO Excellence Awards yet, and we believe this collaboration and partnership will deliver the very best of Mancunian hospitality.