We are excited to announce a stellar line up of speakers for our first seminar on 6th October, who will each help us explore and rediscover what attracts so many visitors to Liverpool every year. Each speaker has been given any entry point into the city, and asked to plan a 48 hour stay with a visitor. With their insider experience of Liverpool’s history, culture, media, and hospitality scenes, we’re excited to find out what makes the Liverpool City Region special to them!

Perhaps the best known of our guest speakers is Frank Cottrell-Boyce, award-winning author and writer of the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Olympic Games. Frank will meet his imaginary visitor at Lime Street Station.

A local of Sefton Borough, what hidden gems will he uncover, around the City Region?

Ngunan Adamu is one of the best known voices in the city – as a producer and presenter at BBC Radio Merseyside. Ngunan is also a BBC International multi-platform trainer, and founder and CEO of iWomen Academy. Ngunan meets her visitor at the Cruise Liner Terminal.

One of two media personalities on our panel, Ngunan always has her finger on the pulse in the city. After growing up and studying in Liverpool, what favourite spots will she share with her imaginary visitor?

Jubeda Khatun is Executive Artistic Director of BlackFest, a performance arts graduate, theatre maker and alumnus of Future Leader of Tomorrow – the Artistic Director leadership programme and a trustee of the grass-roots microgranting organisation Awesome Liverpool. Jubeda will be waiting at the Liverpool One Coach Station for the arrival of her visitor.

With her background in the arts, theatre, music, and spoken word performance, will some of the city’s world-famous cultural venues appear on Jubeda’s itinerary?

Jay Hynd is Founder and Director of The Guide Liverpool, although many will also remember him as a former Breakfast Show producer and co-presenter at Radio City, and presenter at various events across the city and region. Jay gets to head out to Speke to meet his visitor at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

In true The Guide style, Jay has prepared a short film for us, highlighting some of the venues and attractions that make him proud to call Liverpool home.

Natalie Haywood is founder and Managing Director of the LEAF Group of companies and started Leaf on Bold Street expanding to other city centre premises at Oh Me Oh My on Water Street and One Fine Day on Old Hall Street, as well as growing to include LEAF Smithdown Road and LEAF West Kirby. Natalie’s visitor will be arriving by car and so she will surprise us with the location of their first encounter!

As a pillar of Liverpool’s independent hospitality industry, we’re anticipating only the best food and drink on her imaginary itinerary. But what else might be making an appearance? We’ll have to wait and find out!

Destination Liverpool: 6pm 6th October 2021

We also have our two leaders in the tourism and visitor economy sector commenting on what they hear from our guest speakers: Chris Brown – Director of Marketing Liverpool and Peter Sandman – Head of Visitor Economy at Growth Platform.

Have our speakers caught your interest? Meet them in person, or watch the seminar online, at our first hybrid COVID-safe seminar, on Wednesday 6th October. More details and ticket booking link below:

More info