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36 . www.conference-news.co.uk . June 2012June SHOWCASEanchester's annual destination showcase, Manchester Live, took place on 10 May 2012 at The Roof Gardens, Kensington. It was held amid news that Manchester had jumped six places from 86th to 79th in the latest International Congress and Convention (ICCA) rankings. The city held 26 qualifying city association meetings in 2011, compared to 21 in 2010, and according to the Managing Director of Visit Manchester, Paul Simpson, Manchester Live was important in detailing why more conferences and events should be held in in the city. Representatives of 37 venues from across Manchester attended the event including Manchester Central, The Thistle Manchester, The Point and The University of Manchester. Guests were encouraged to meet with as many venues as possible, with prizes being offered for those that collected a minimum of 20 stickers from the exhibitors. Prizes included a weekend stay at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate, a day conference package for 50 delegates at Britannia Country House, and a signed football shirt from Manchester United Football Club. Simpson deemed the event a "great success", while Julie Powell, Sales and Business Development Manager at Manchester Central saw the evening as an "opportunity to showcase Manchester's business tourism offering to key buyers across the UK and further afi eld".Other exhibitors at Manchester Live were also in agreement that the event was a productive way in which to showcase Manchester as a host for potential meetings and events, and network with potential clients. Vicky Judge, Sales Manager at The Portland by Thistle, said: "The turnout and quality of buyers was brilliant, so much so that we picked up our fi rst enquiry the morning after the event. The competition card was a great idea as it encouraged delegates to visit as many stands as possible, giving the exhibitors great coverage."Hannah Jones, Conference and Events Sales Executive at The Point, said: "To meet over 200 buyers in one night, and indeed a variety of buyers from associations to agents to corporate clients, was fantastic." Speaking at the event, Simpson said that since the destination showcase last year, "Lancashire County Cricket Club commenced phase two of its £32m redevelopment, and Manchester Metropolitan University unveiled new conference facilities in its new Business School." In terms of this year's event, Simpson is hopeful of extending Manchester's MICE industry reach even further. "We look forward to working with our partners on the business leads discussed at the event and spreading the word of what Manchester has to offer the UK conference industry," he said.ManchesterThe third annual Manchester Live event took place in London at The Kensington Roof Gardens,as the city climbed six places in the latest ICCA rankings. Zoe Vernor reportsMManaging Director of Visit Manchester, Paul Simpson speaking at the eventLive in London