Conference will be £20m boost for Brighton (From The Argus)
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Conference will be £20m boost for Brighton
7:50am Friday 10th February 2012 in Business News By Sarah Trotter
Brighton and Hove is set for another multi-million-pound boost with Labour returning to the city for its annual conference in 2015.
The announcement comes less than a fortnight after the party picked the city for its high-profile gathering next year.
Party bosses said the revamped Brighton Centre was a major reason for ditching Bournemouth in favour of a return to Sussex, which city leaders believe will bring in at least £20 million to the local economy.
They added it could potentially generate even more if Labour wins the general election, which is due to be held in May 2015.
Geoffrey Bowden, Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and recreation, said: “There is a tremendous impact when one of the three big parties comes to the city around election time.
“Any conference to the city fills our hotel rooms and restaurants, people also buy in our shops and use our taxis, which all add to the income of the city.”
He added that Brighton had everything a party conference could require with excellent hotels, restaurants, facilities and good proximity to London.
As with the 2013 event to be held in September, Labour had previously pencilled in Bournemouth as its location for 2015.
Ian McNicol, Labour’s general secretary, said: “Brighton’s newly refurbished centre will provide an excellent venue for Labour’s shadow cabinet and party members to meet together for both our conferences in 2013 and 2015."
With the Liberal Democrats also holding their annual conference in Brighton this September, more than £60 million will be brought into the city through the events over the three years.
