Welcome to Marketing Manchester’s new blog – As chief executive, I would like to start by wishing you all a very happy new year and introduce you to my ongoing commentary, in which I fully intend to bang on about why Manchester is so great. But, it won't just be issues relating to tourism!
As many of you will be aware, Marketing Manchester has a far broader remit than simply tourism – it is about promoting the city, whenever and wherever the opportunity presents itself. For example, the Manchester at MIPIM partnership coordinated by Marketing Manchester is not about tourism, it is quite simply about the promotion and development of the city.
Arguably, the winning of Labour Party Annual Conference for the city was great news for business tourism, but we all know it was far more than that. The winning of political conferences is about profile and opportunity . . . and if we Mancs (by choice or by birth) know anything, it's how to grasp an opportunity.
The new year brings with it a tide of exciting new events, original developments and further recognition for the city-region as a whole. It will be my pleasure to update you on such developments and discuss with you an array of topical issues affecting Manchester’s national and international profile.
Indeed 2007 already looks set to be an exciting year for Manchester, providing plenty of topics for discussion: The Society of American Travel Writers will be holding their 52nd annual conference in Manchester in October 2007. This is a really exciting opportunity to showcase the city-region, to over six hundred delegates, made up of travel writers, photographers, editors and broadcasters from across the US.
If ever something was to embody the Manchester spirit then of course, the inaugural Manchester International Festival is going to be it. It will be the world’s first international festival of original new work created by leading artists from across the spectrum of credible popular culture, innovation and the arts. Many of the Festival's productions and events will world premiere in the city before touring to other international destinations, such as Paris, New York and Berlin.
The rebirth in 2007 of a number of fabulous Manchester buildings including the John Ryland’s Library and Gorton Monastery will be eagerly awaited.
I look forward to a successful year for Manchester.
Andrew Stokes,
Chief Executive.
