The 2027 Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress at Birmingham’s NEC is being projected to bring more than £30 million of benefits to West Midlands in visitor expenditure alone.
Chris Lane, who is leading Transport for West Midlands’ work in hosting the major global event, was updating the Transport Technology Forum’s Annual Conference in Leicestershire with the latest on the arrangements, explaining that planning around demonstrations and visitor experiences are progressing well.
“Based on previous events, we can estimate that the total spend by visitors will bring £31 million into the West Midlands economy – and that is just for their accommodation, food and tourism spend while here,” he said. “This figure does not even begin to account for the business generated for our ITS industry that will happen because we will be showcasing UK solutions, expertise and invention to the world.”
Expected to welcome more than 15,000 participants from across the globe, the 2027 ITS World Congress will feature an extensive exhibition, a high-level summit for transport leaders, five days of technical and special interest sessions, hands-on demonstrations, technical visits, and robust networking opportunities. Under the theme “Connect Ideas. Transform Transport.”, the Congress will serve as a unique platform to showcase how intelligent transport systems are transforming mobility worldwide.
Mr Lane explained how, thanks to frequent major events at the National Exhibition Centre, the West Midlands region has experts in delivering international gatherings and that they have already secured thousands of hotel rooms, drawn up plans for demonstrations to showcase transport technology across the West Midlands and wider UK, and are planning how to make sure visitors have a great experience of both the Congress and their time in and around Birmingham.
He added that the Birmingham 2027 Congress will be prominently promoted at both the 2025 ITS World Congress in Atlanta and on the TTF-led stand at the forthcoming ITS European Congress in Seville to help raise awareness and generate momentum as the community prepares for what is anticipated to be a landmark event in the global ITS calendar.
For public authorities, companies and academic institutions, the Congress represents a significant opportunity to demonstrate how advanced transport technologies are contributing to a cleaner environment, safer journeys and enhanced user experience. TfWM is actively building a network of prospective sponsors, exhibitors and supporters, and invites interested parties to register their interest in taking part.
(Picture – TTF)
