As the sparkly gold dust settled on Liverpool’s super successful hosting of Eurovision 2023, it might have been tempting to hang-up our dancing boots, at least for a bit, and bask in the glow that the global spotlight the international song contest shone on our city region, but that’s not really our style.
Like an ever-energetic disco diva, who never wants to go home, we’ve kept on going this month, with no signs of a slow-down. Major productions, new international platforms, unanimous praise, awards success, global PR wins and a plethora of positive developments have all taken place recently, which we’ve round-up here as news in-brief.
As the summer really starts to kick in, Liverpool City Region is turning heads, making moves, aiming high, rising up the rankings and making plans for the months and years ahead. Read all about these things and more in our regular round-up of ‘ML’ activity.
THIS MONTH VISITLIVERPOOL…
- Launched a new website and app: visitliverpool.com and VisitLiverpool app. Follow the links to see what’s new.
- Welcomed Liverpool’s new Aer Lingus route from Dublin to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. This will provide a seamless connection from North America, via Dublin, into Liverpool… Read more.
- Met King Charles and Queen Camilla in Liverpool, when the monarch stopped at Liverpool Central Library to meet some of the organisers of the Eurovision festival.
- Basked in the lingering glow of Eurovision fever that has gripped Liverpool and the wider UK. The event saw millions of worldwide viewers enjoy the Grand Final.
- Celebrated the success of Liverpool’s EuroFestival. The 2-week cultural festival that took place in Liverpool during the delivery of the Eurovision Song Contest, was the first of its kind from a Eurovision host city.
- Hosted a live webinar for French tour operators, in partnership with VisitBritain.
- Presented a one-hour live Liverpool update to thousands of tour operators and travel agents across the USA on the ‘Group Travel Odyssey’ channel.
- Welcomed an array of new VisitLiverpool partners, including Maldron Hotel, Wreckfish, Municipal Hotel, Liverpool MGallery and the Oracle Bar.
- Offered their congratulations to the three Liverpool City Region Tourism Award winners who were shortlisted at the Visit England Awards for Excellence. Sunnyside B&B, Titanic Hotel and St Luke’s Bombed Out Church… Read more.
THIS MONTH IN PRESS & PR…
- Marketing Liverpool welcomed press trips from publications in Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Canada.
- We worked with VisitBritain on an influencer trip’ which featured a group of 12 influencers from around the world, visiting Liverpool for two days, during Eurovision to take in attractions, restaurants, hotels and the Eurovision Semi Final.
- We hosted a press trip from March in collaboration with VisitBritain produced content in May from publications from around the world including Vanity Fair Italy, La Voix du Nord France, Deccan Herald India, Allt om Resor Sweden, El Mundo Spain, British Magazine Germany and others too.
- We ensured a range of Liverpool hospitality venues secured national and international recognition recently with ‘The Quarter’ appearing in The Guardian’s ‘Best Places for Breakfast’ feature; Manifest making the National Restaurant Awards 2023 Top 100 Restaurants list and Moor Hall being named as ‘Best Restaurant in England’ at the National Restaurant Awards 2023.
- The team congratulated three Liverpool City Region venues that won awards at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence including Titanic Hotel winning Gold for Large Hotel of the Year, Sunnyside Guest House won Bronze for Guest House and B&B of the Year and St Luke’s Bombed Out Church won Gold for Resilience and Innovation…. Read more.
- Marketing Liverpool worked with a large number of press, journalists and media during Eurovision 2023, facilitating interviews with publications across the world including Le Monde, CNN, and BBC Radio. We also designed and hosted a VisitLiverpool Host City Stand in the official Eurovision Media centre, which was the first point of contact for press and media questions for the Host City.
THIS MONTH LIVERPOOL CONVENTION BUREAU…
- Attended the Conference Hospitality Show (CHS) in Leeds.
- Exhibited at IMEX Frankfurt with VisitBritain.
- Set up the Visitor Economy Sustainability Taskforce to develop a sustainability action plan for the sector.
- Joined Destinations international on their pathfinder programme.
- Appointed Howard Lewis, General Manager of Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village as the new Chair of their Liverpool ambassador programme, Club Liverpool… Read more.
- Were placed at 118 in the world in the annual ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) rankings which is based on the number of in-person conferences taking place. This is the highest ranking Liverpool has achieved since 2008 when ACC Liverpool opened.
- Saw an increase of 30% in conference and accommodation enquiries in the last financial year when compared to pre-Covid levels.
THIS MONTH OUR CULTURE, MUSIC, SPORT AND FILM OFFICE TEAM…
- Welcomed the announcement that the City of Liverpool and Everton Stadium will now formally become part of the UK and Ireland’s bid to host UEFA EURO 2028. The bid includes 10 stadia across 9 cities. A final decision is expected October 2023.
- Attended the Sound City conference and festival, which took place during the build-up to Eurovision.
- Welcomed two new Liverpool Film Office team members; Crew Development Manager, Helen Morgan and Marketing and Communications Manager, Lauren Jones.
- Celebrated BBC’s ‘The Responder’ receiving 6 BAFTA TV nominations. The British Police Drama series is one of the recipients of the Liverpool City Region Production Fund.
- Facilitated the BBCs utilisation of Liverpool Film Studios ‘The Depot’ for part of their Eurovision rehearsals, with great success.
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