Liverpool is emerging as the clear favourite to host next year's ABTA travel conference, in spite of tough competition from sunnier climes.
With most travel agents having already seen the world through attending the annual industry event over recent years, many now feel that the time has come for organisers to take advantage of the fine conferencing facilities at home.
Indeed, of the 106 readers of Travel Weekly polled on the subject, 58 per cent stated a preference for Liverpool, with just 29 per cent voting for Macau and 13 per cent for Tel Aviv in Israel.
Commenting on the findings, the Co-operative Travel director of retail distribution Trevor Davis, explained: "A UK conference is long overdue.
"Agents are more likely to attend a UK event because of cost and time. It would be easier and cheaper."
Should the Lancashire city get the green light, it is well placed to host the event, with the Arena and Convention Centre (ACC) having opened in January and capable of hosting 1,350 delegates.
ABTA has not held its annual event in the UK since the Birmingham conference of 1994. 
