This year's International Motor Show at the NEC is set to smash attendance records and bring an estimated £30 million to local businesses over the next fortnight.
The NEC group, playing host to over 300 exhibitors and showcasing the UK debut of 75 new models, confirmed 90,000 advance ticket sales and expects almost 700,000 visitors to attend during the next fortnight.
The event - the biggest consumer exhibition in the UK - will officially open to the public on Friday.
But more than 22,000 people have already been employed in the show's build-up, which is organised by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
And visiting businessmen have already made an impact on the local economy, with nearby hotels and restaurants reporting a rise in reservations.
Today a spokesman at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole saidthehotel's800 rooms were fully booked.
Barry Cleverdon, Chief Executive of the NEC group said: "The British International Motor Show has been one of the highlights of the busy calendar of the NEC since its debut here in 1978."
John Lamb of the Birmingham years ber of Commerce agreed and said ever since the NEC first won the contract, the city had worked hard to secure its future.
He said: "Birmingham is now a major player on the international motor sister cuit.It's important we encourage British manufacturers - like MG Rover and Jaguar - to attend and keep local sup-pliers in business."
