New Supports to boost Ireland’s business tourism further

Fáilte Ireland also competes for more UK business at Meet Dublin in London Event

• New supports available to attract more business tourism to Ireland
• 117 conferences are confirmed to take place this year with a combined value of €57 million to the Irish economy
• 70 conferences already secured for next year and beyond with a potential €84 million in revenue
• UK business will account for more than €9million alone this year

A newly developed suite of meeting, incentive travel and conferencing (MICE) supports will be presented by Fáilte Ireland’s Meet in Ireland team at the annual IMEX Frankfurt Trade Exhibition next week (19-21 May 2015). IMEX is one of the largest worldwide exhibitions for incentive travel, meetings and events and is attended by over 14,000 industry professionals that gather to learn more about what’s on offer to the business tourism visitor. These new supports will provide compelling incentives to both clients and industry professionals to choose Ireland for their next corporate meeting or incentive trip.

The key to winning more business for Ireland is to make it easier to come here. Accordingly, Fáilte Ireland’s MICE Programme will be providing a full range of complimentary practical and financial supports as well as impartial advice and assistance for businesses holding corporate meeting or incentive travel for upwards of 75 delegates in Ireland. This includes access to approved Destination Management Companies (DMC’s), access to convention bureau supports as well as a range of practical toolkits.

Focussed at the very early stages of winning an event for Ireland, the new MICE supports will now begin at the ‘bid stage’ supporting organisers to hold a site inspection for key decision makers. Organisers will also be able to avail of funding to enhance and develop the destination programme with a welcome reception, social excursion or entertainment at a gala event.

The Meet in Ireland team, along with 35 Irish MICE businesses, will be on hand at IMEX to share more detailed information on these new supports and why buyers should choose Ireland - a world class business event destination at a number of targeted presentations scheduled to take place across the three day event.

Speaking ahead of the IMEX trade show, Miriam Kennedy, Head of Business Tourism, Fáilte Ireland said –

“Business tourism remains a priority for Fáilte Ireland. To date an impressive 117 conferences are confirmed to take place this year with an estimated combined value of €57 million to the Irish economy. Next year and beyond is also looking positive, with 70 conferences already secured, along with a potential €84 million in revenue for the Irish economy. A further 218 conferences are currently being bid for at the moment, with a potential value of €302m if all are secured.

“We are delighted to be part of IMEX where we will be selling Ireland as the number one destination for meetings, incentive travel and conferencing to the thousands of attendees. Having a ‘Team Ireland’ presence at these events proves invaluable year on year as it enables us to sell Ireland face to face business to thousands of global buyers and present our unique offering to them.”  

Winning More UK Business for Ireland

Meanwhile, Fáilte Ireland’s Dublin Convention Bureau was targeting new UK business in London this week (14 May) at the high profile “Meet Dublin in London” workshop event which was attended by 187 UK buyers this year – a record number indicating a growing enthusiasm for Dublin.  

UK meetings and events buyers connected with Dublin hoteliers, venues and conference organisers at the event which took place on the Silver Sturgeon boat located on The River Thames.

44 Dublin trade members were on hand to showcase the world class facilities that Dublin can offer business visitors convincing the UK decision makers to choose Dublin as the next destination for their conference, meeting or incentive travel.

Ms Kennedy continued –

“Corporate meetings in particular are a valuable source of business and revenue for Ireland and the UK market is a significant player in Ireland’s business tourism sector. The value of the corporate meetings sector alone is €100 million with each delegate worth €1,150 a day to the economy – almost twice that of a leisure visitor.

“Last year, Fáilte Ireland, through its Dublin Convention Bureau, won more than €9million of business from the UK market alone and is on target to exceed this figure in 2015. Not only have we already confirmed over €9million in UK business already, but with such a short lead in time for confirming business we are confident that we will surpass that figure for the UK market in the coming months.”

Top UK Meeting Planners were given a flavour of the new vibrant Dublin sales pitch and core competitive appeals of Dublin as the meeting destinations for UK events which included the production of a NEW VIDEO  aimed at attracting more business tourism to Dublin. They also took part in a networking workshop with these 187 UK buyers in a bid to win even more business for 2015 and beyond.

Jerry Allanson, General Manager of Wedgewood Britain explained why he was returning to the Meet Dublin in London event –

“The Meet Dublin in London networking evening has become an important annual event for us, as it represents the perfect opportunity to meet up with the Dublin Convention Bureau team and other key Dublin suppliers, while enjoying some warm Irish hospitality and in a great setting too. Ticks all the boxes for me ...and yes, it combines business with pleasure!” 

Photographs from Meet Dublin in London are available on request

Follow us on twitter @Failte_Ireland and @DublinMeetings #MDIL2015

ENDS

For further information contact

Alex Connolly, Head of Communications
(01) 8847 884 / (086) 07966320

Laoise Donnelly, Press Officer
(01) 8847195 / (086) 0404788


Notes to Editor

Fáilte Ireland
Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, was established in 2003 to guide and promote tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.

The tourism and hospitality industry employs an estimated 200,000 people and generates over €3.5billion in overseas revenue a year. 

More about Business Tourism
Business Tourism is one of the highest yield sectors in tourism, worth €576 million a year to the economy and the sector employs 19,000 jobs in Ireland. Business Tourists or international delegates are valued at €1,400, that’s 2-3 times that of a leisure tourist and on average each delegate will extend their stay to nearly three days on top of their business commitment, affording them the opportunity to mix business and pleasure.

MEET IN IRELAND
The Meet in Ireland banner is the official MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) brand for the island of Ireland. It comprises of three tourism authorities: Failte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and the Tourism Northern Ireland, who work in partnership to promote Ireland as a leading conference and meeting destination.

Dublin Convention Bureau
Dublin Convention Bureau (DCB) is part of Fáilte Ireland’s dedicated Business Tourism team. They aim to promote Dublin as a business tourism destination by creating awareness of its advantages and offering solutions that meets the needs of clients and partners.

More about IMEX
Irish trade partners attending IMEX with the Meet In Ireland team include:

A Touch of Ireland
Aviva Stadium
Ballsbridge Hotel
Belfast Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre
Carton House
CityWest Hotel Conference and Event Centre
Clyde Court Hotel
Cork Convention Bureau
Croke Park Hotel and Conference Centre
Dromoland Castle
Dublin Convention Bureau
Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa
Event Partners Ireland
House of Waterford Crystal
Irish Horizons Conference and Incentive
Kerry Convention Bureau
Killashee House Hotel
Lough Erne Resort
Meet in Galway
Neville Hotels (Royal Marine and Kilkenny River Court
O’Callaghan Hotels
Odyssey International Meetings and Incentives
Ovation Ireland
RDS Conference Village
Teeling Whiskey Distillery
The Convention Centre Dublin
The Malton
The Marker
The Shelbourne Hotel
The Westin Dublin
Tifco Hotels Ireland
Titanic Belfast
Trump International Doonbeg
Visit Belfast
Wallace Travel Group

Tourism Ireland is the organisation responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas as a holiday destination.
Tourism Northern Ireland is the official body responsible for the development, promotion and marketing of Northern Ireland.

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