As the world’s first industrial city, Manchester’s identity is evolving, and it has a new story to tell. With flourishing sector strengths, refreshed priorities and a growing reputation as a top visitor destination, Greater Manchester is having a moment. It’s a city ready to bring vivacity, passion and classic Mancunian character to meetings and events of all shapes, sizes and sectors.
Recently named one of the top five meeting destinations in Europe by American Express Meetings & Events, Greater Manchester’s revolutionary past and pioneering plans to become a leader in sustainability, innovation and culture are positioning it as a game-changing city of the future. Creative thinking, ambition and radical ideas are ingrained in every inch of this city, and when combined with the hassle-free event planning support from the Manchester Convention Bureau, make it the perfect place to collaborate and exchange ideas that could change the world.
Expertise in health innovation, life sciences, digital capabilities, and advanced manufacturing form a natural part of the city’s DNA and have done for centuries. Greater Manchester split the atom, created the first electronic stored-program computer, and is the birthplace of wonder material, graphene. However, as a city- region that doesn’t stand still, Greater Manchester is leading the transformation of these sectors to work for the next generation. Building a creative and digital hub and fast-forwarding advances in net-zero, green energy, revolutionary healthcare, and advanced materials means Manchester is once again at the forefront of a new industrial revolution.
The city-region is ready to solve this generation’s biggest challenges. It recently made the CDP A-List and was named a Climate Action Leader. As the first city-region in the UK to set a science-based target to become carbon neutral by 2038, twelve years ahead of the government target, Greater Manchester is spearheading sustainability.
2023 is also set to be an exciting year for visitor economy, with the opening of many new attractions, restaurants, hotels, and cultural spaces. With an already infamous social, cultural and sporting scene, Manchester has always been celebrated for delegate downtime, and the Manchester Convention Bureau can help ensure you find the perfect activities for your conference. Delegates will never tire of its vibrant food scene, iconic venues, an abundant programme of live entertainment and vast array of museums, and with exciting plans for new venues and openings in 2023, the city is about to undergo a resurgence, making it an even more exciting destination.
Recently, the city opened its first public park in over 100 years at Mayfield Park, the Manchester Art Gallery opened a new fashion gallery, and plans were unveiled for Co-op Live, the UK’s largest new indoor music arena, and Factory International, a huge new cultural hub and home of the Manchester International Festival. Additionally, new, unique hotels continue to launch, and the Manchester Convention Bureau’s Accommodation Booking Service can help you find the perfect hotel for your attendees.
These openings have placed Manchester on some of the world’s most prestigious tourism watchlists. National Geographic, Lonely Planet, Conde Nast Traveller and Time Out have all recognised the city as a must-visit destination for 2023.
As well as enhancing delegate downtime, the new openings will provide unique and exciting opportunities within the meetings and events sector, with extraordinary new spaces to add some Mancunian character to your event.
Castlefield Viaduct, one of the city’s newest green spaces, is a former railway bridge transformed by the National Trust into an urban sky park. With stunning city-centre views and embracing Manchester’s industrial heritage, Castlefield Viaduct creates a magical, one-of-a-kind, after- hours event space. The revamped Manchester Museum will also provide an unforgettable event, with opportunities for drinks receptions and dinners surrounded by dinosaurs and ancient artefacts. Plus, Factory International will add a major large-scale creative space to the city totalling 13,350 sq. metres. With the ability to host events from conferences and exhibitions to standing receptions, product launches and intimate parties, the spaces at
Factory International can suit any vision but each will place you at the epicentre of Manchester’s creative scene, for unforgettable moments.
The bureau’s Venue Location Service can help you find a stand-out venue for your event no matter the size, sector or purpose and is already supporting over 80 events for 2023 and beyond. These include the European Conference in Graphene and 2D Materials 2023, Annual Congress of the EAHAD 2023 (European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders), ISPA 2023 (Congress of the International Society for the Performing Arts) and HYROX World Championships 2023. When planning an event, the Manchester Convention Bureau is on hand to support at all stages.
Stephanie Newton, Head of Business Tourism at the bureau says: “The next year is an incredibly exciting time for Greater Manchester, and the city-region has a real buzz around it. Luckily, planning a conference in Manchester couldn’t be easier with our experts on hand. The team can support from conception to completion, ensuring a truly unforgettable experience.”
Get in touch with the Manchester Convention Bureau. Meetinmanchester. com for further information.