Liverpool has reinforced its position as one of the UK’s leading destinations for international association conferences, according to the latest International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) global rankings.
The 2025 ICCA rankings show that Liverpool hosted 22 qualifying international meetings, placing it 120th globally, 66th in Europe and 5th in the UK, behind only London, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Manchester.
International conferences generate significant economic impact for Liverpool City Region, supporting hotels, venues, restaurants and local businesses, while strengthening the city’s reputation in health, science, innovation, education and advanced manufacturing.
Business events also create long-term opportunities for investment, research partnerships and talent attraction.
Merseyside Visitor Economy Capitalises on High-Value Business Tourism
Natalie Wyatt, Managing Director of Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership, said:
“These results demonstrate Liverpool’s growing reputation as an accomplished destination for hosting world-class international conferences and events across a wide range of sectors.
“To maintain this level of performance following our strongest-ever year is a significant achievement and reflects the collaboration and ambition of partners right across the city region.
“International conferences bring substantial economic benefits to Liverpool, supporting jobs, businesses and investment, while also creating opportunities for research collaboration, innovation and global profile-building for our institutions and sectors.
“Many international conferences are secured several years in advance and often begin with academics, clinicians, researchers and industry leaders using their networks and influence within international associations to champion Liverpool.
“We know there is enormous, untapped potential across our universities, institutions and professional communities, and we would encourage organisations to get in touch with us early to explore how we can work together to bring future conferences to the city region.”
Waterfront Infrastructure and Accommodation Levies Drive Global Ambitions
Liverpool Experience Campus, formerly ACC Liverpool, continues to play a central role as a world-class waterfront campus of interconnected venues.
Adrian Evans, Director of Sales, said:
“Liverpool Experience Campus helps position the city region as a destination that is adept at hosting major conferences and events on an international scale.
“The unique combination of our interconnected venues, central location and integrated accommodation offering enables us to deliver world-class experiences for delegates and organisers alike’.
The city aims to increase meetings to between 26 and 28 by 2026 to move closer to the global top 100, supported by the Accommodation BID and Club Liverpool ambassador programme.
Bill Addy, CEO of Liverpool Business Improvement District, who oversee the Accommodation BID, said:
“The ambition of our hotel sector when it pushed for the establishment of an Accommodation BID was to achieve exactly this kind of success.
“Liverpool was the first city to have an operating ABID, and the overnight visitor levy delivers its success because it is driven by a single metric: to increase overnight stays. Supporting global conferences, alongside major events, is part of the core role of the subvention fund, which the overnight levy generates.
“This circular and sustainable visitor economy helps to illustrate the real benefit of the private sector working so passionately and determinedly for the city.”
Natalie Wyatt said:
“Club Liverpool offers an outstanding platform for individuals and organisations who want to raise both their own international profile and Liverpool’s reputation on the global stage.
“The programme has already helped attract major conferences to the city and we would love to hear from more people who are involved in international associations or considering future event opportunities.”
