Rachael joined Liverpool Convention Bureau in 2017 and has been International Bidding Manager since 2019 – working closely with Jane on the Club Liverpool ambassador programme.
Rachael plays a pivotal role in collaborating with local academics, medics, and experts to bid and host international association conferences in Liverpool. Her expertise and passion for the city have been instrumental in attracting conferences and events.
Rachael’s explains more about her role and how it has evolved since becoming International Bidding Manager…
What was your background at LCB before this role?
I joined Liverpool Convention Bureau during my gap year at university, where I was studying Business Studies at Liverpool John Moores. Initially starting as an intern on a one year placement, I never imagined that 6 years later, I would be leading on international association conference bids. During my time at LCB, I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the events industry particularly because of my passion for seeing Liverpool, the city I’m proud to call home, thrive and succeed.
What does your job entail?
In my role research plays a vital part, and being a member of ICCA gives us access to their database which is a fantastic resource for finding association conferences that could potentially come to Liverpool. Our strategy is to attract conferences that align with Liverpool’s sector strengths to showcase the work, research and innovation happening on a global stage.
Working closely with Jane and the Club Liverpool ambassador programme, most of my time is dedicated to supporting ambassadors who wish to bring a conference to our city. Whether it’s providing venue recommendations and quotes, securing letters of support, or putting together a persuasive bid document to showcase Liverpool as a world-class conference destination, my goal is to alleviate the stress and make the entire process as smooth as possible. By coordinating the bid, this allows our ambassadors to focus on the conference theme, local organiser responsibilities and sector information, all of which play vital roles in the decision making process for the next host destination.
How do you help Ambassadors to bid for conferences?
Our support includes:
- Researching the event details and determine whether Liverpool is a suitable host
- Preparing and submitting a comprehensive bid document to sell Liverpool and the sector to the event organiser
- Securing letters of support from key local stakeholders to back the conference bid
- Provide unique and exciting venue recommendations for both the conference and the social programme
- Negotiate with local accommodation providers and set up an accommodation booking service for delegates
- Coordinate and host a site visit for decision makers to experience what Liverpool has to offer
- Assist with applications for civic hospitality
- Connecting ambassadors with local suppliers and professional conference organiser (PCOs), if required
We want to ensure the process of bidding and hosting a conference is Liverpool is as smooth as possible for our ambassadors.
What’s the best bit about your job?
One of my favourite parts is building connections and working with so many fascinating people – I love hearing about the incredible work carried out by our ambassadors. We are fortunate in Liverpool to have world-leading experts who are passionate and proud to bring events to the city. Hosting a conference not only has a significant economic impact for local businesses but also provides an opportunity to enhance our international reputation.
There’s also no feeling like winning a conference – the process may involve months of hard work, multiple site visits and never ending deadlines but seeing that event come to life, welcoming delegates to Liverpool and showcasing the city is really rewarding.