In the 19th century, the bustling and charismatic city of Liverpool was described as "the New York of Europe" because of the heroic design of its major buildings (many of which still grace the city, making it a truly memorable convention destination and experience). Nowadays, however, the city is synonymous with a pop group named the Beatles – something of which Liverpudlians (or "scousers" as they call themselves) are proudly aware. Venues in Liverpool that invoke the Beatles are numerous, as are the Magical Mystery Tour buses rolling through the streets, pointing out sites referred to in Beatles songs.
Liverpool has excellent road and rail connections to the surrounding Manchester/Liverpool City Region and the rest of the UK. It is also served by two excellent international airports, Liverpool John Lennon and Manchester International.
The opening of the stunningly designed Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool (ACC) has put Liverpool on the map as an international conference destination. Located alongside its World Heritage Site dockland project, the ACC complex is chief among Liverpool convention venues; it contains the 1,350-seat BT Convention Centre Auditorium, 18 individual seminar and break-out rooms, 75,348 square feet of exhibition space and a state-of-the-art banqueting suite for 1,800 guests. Situated next to the ACC is the 11,000-capacity Echo Arena which also boasts many environmental and architectural design features. Since its opening in 2008, the Echo Arena has hosted many top sporting events and concerts. It also boasts over 20 corporate hospitality boxes and VIP hospitality areas which can be used in conjunction with the adjacent BT Convention Centre for the staging of large-scale exhibitions and events. (The ACC is also supported by the recently refurbished Southport Theatre and Convention Centre.)
Hotel venues in Liverpool include the Radisson SAS, the Crowne Plaza, Malmaison, Jury's Inn, the Atlantic Tower, the Beatles-dedicated Hard Days Night Hotel and the Hope Street Hotel, known to some as one of the "coolest hotels in the world." Other hotels include the 215-room Hilton Liverpool, which can accommodate 450 guests in theater-style seating; the 402-room Britannia Adelphi Hotel with banqueting for 850 guests; and the fashionable and contemporary Radisson Blu Hotel, which can accommodate up to 200 guests. In all, there are more than 5,000 quality guest rooms in Liverpool, as the city is home to many 4 Star convention hotels.
Liverpool is well known for its devotion to music, culture and sport, and it also boasts one of the finest collections of museums, galleries and theaters outside London, including the Tate Liverpool and the Merseyside Maritime Museum. And don't forget "The Beatles Experience," with recreations of Beatles-manager Brian Epstein's office.
