Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) and the Pavilion

Lib Dems are back in Bournemouth

The Bournemouth International Centre welcomes the Liberal Democrat party conference this weekend for the second year running. As the first of this year’s party conferences, the final round before the next general election, the event will be the focus of national media attention from 19 -23 September.

Despite today’s climate of government cuts and diminishing resources, the BIC continues to generate income for Bournemouth, as well as bringing custom to the town’s businesses including hotels, bars, restaurants and shops.

It’s estimated that the conference will bring around £6.5 million to the local economy, with 6,000 delegates staying an average of four nights in the area. And that’s in addition to the stewards, exhibitors and media which form part of the event as well.

The conference will be the first to use the newly-refurbished Tregonwell Hall at the BIC. Phase One of the upgrade sees improved lighting, acoustic panelling and general modernisation of all facilities, while Phase Two, due to take place in February next year, will complete the scheme with new carpeting and flooring, new doors and glass balustrading. The refurbishment represents an investment of some £300,000, demonstrating the BIC’s commitment to its future as one of the UK’s premier conference venues.

Peter Gunn, managing director of the BIC and Pavilion, explained: “The Lib Dems’ decision to return to Bournemouth highlights the town’s ability to combine superb business and leisure facilities in an all-round high quality experience for delegates and their partners.”

The flexibility of the facilities offered by the BIC and Pavilion to host the main conference itself was not the only reason the Party chose Bournemouth, explained Duncan Brack, Chair of the Federal Conference Committee for the Liberal Democrats. “Lib Dem conference delegates regularly tell us that Bournemouth is one of their favourite destinations and we're always made to feel extremely welcome by the team at the BIC,” he said.

Last year, like all events run at the BIC and Pavilion, the aim was to minimise the conference’s environmental impact and make it as ‘green’ as possible. Among other activities, the BIC undertook an intensive recycling procedure after the event, with a total of 31 stillages of paper and cardboard recycled by the BIC team. That’s 20.77 cubic metres of recycling, making up approximately a seventh of the BIC’s yearly collection!