Ireland ready for business
30/03/2010
Ireland ready for business: Peter Malone, Chairperson Business Tourism Forum; Keelin Fagan, Fáilte Ireland; Richard Porter, Conference Ambassador Trinity College and Keith McCormack, Fáilte Ireland
Over half a million Euro available to bring conferences to Ireland
Fáilte Ireland is committing half a million Euro this year to support Irish professionals to bring international conferences to this country. The money is being made available through Fáilte Ireland’s Conference Ambassador Fund and it is hoped that this activity will generate a significant increase in the number of business tourism visitors coming to Ireland.
The funding was announced at a Fáilte Ireland Business Tourism Industry Briefing held today in one of Ireland’s business venues, the RDS. Members of the business tourism sector attending included business tourism hotel trade, professional conference organisers, destination management companies and the convention bureaux.
In 2009, Fáilte Ireland supported a total of 122 conferences attracting over 57,000 delegates and generated estimated revenue of over €80m. This represents a significant increase on 2008 figures when 89 conferences were supported. It is envisaged that this figure will increase once again in 2010, particularly with the opening of The Convention Centre Dublin (CCD). So far this year, Fáilte Ireland’s Conference Ambassador Fund has supported 33 new conferences bringing in almost 17,000 overseas delegates, yielding estimated revenue in excess of €23 million for the economy.
Speaking at the briefing, Peter Malone, Chairman of Fáilte Ireland’s Business Tourism Forum emphasised that Ireland is well placed to be marketed as a business tourism destination.
“Ireland has always been a good fit for business tourism across all sectors – conferencing, incentive and corporate meetings. This fund will help potential ambassadors to bring their conference to Ireland and further grow this lucrative sector.
The imminent opening of the CCD means that we are even better placed to win more business at the premium end of the international conference market. The Ireland Inc approach to securing international conferences continues to be a great success and Team Ireland, incorporating Fáilte Ireland, the convention bureaux and the Irish trade, will be working together to win even more conference business during 2010 and beyond.”
Also at today’s briefing, new research, carried out by IPSOS TNS and polling over 1200 overseas delegates, was presented to the industry. The briefing heard that nine out of ten overseas delegates were very satisfied with their experience of Ireland as a destination for international conferences and almost 90% said they would recommend Ireland as a conference destination.
Key findings of the research included:
- International delegates spent on average over six days in Ireland with more than a quarter of delegates using the conference to mix business and leisure.
- The average out of pocket spend (excluding fees, accommodation paid on behalf of the delegate) by international delegates was €980 during their stay.
- One in three delegates spent more than €1000 during their stay.
- Nine out of ten delegates said that they would recommend Ireland as a destination for a holiday or short break.
- Three quarters said that it was likely that they would return to Ireland for a holiday or short break in the future.
- In addition, more than 80% were accompanied by family members who used the opportunity to explore Ireland.
- Almost four in ten international delegates were from Mainland Europe, with a third from North America. Britain and Northern Ireland accounted for one in five delegates.
Whether potential ambassadors are bidding, marketing or showcasing their conference to international colleagues, Fáilte Ireland (through the Conference Ambassador Fund) can provide both the financial and practical support to help with the process.
Dr. Richard Porter, from Trinity College Dublin, is just one of many Conference Ambassadors to avail of this support –
“Fáilte Ireland’s Ambassador Fund provided me with the means to bid and win the European Bioenergetics Conference, attended by over 500 overseas delegates. They described the event as the most successful in this area of research and consequently, Ireland will always have a special place in the hearts of these highly passionate and motivated researchers.”
Ireland is well placed to increase its number of conference delegates with the opening of The Convention Centre Dublin, Ireland’s first purpose-built conference venue, later in the year, which will complement the excellent conferencing facilities already available, putting Ireland firmly on the international map. With only six months to go until The Convention Centre Dublin opens, business has been growing steadily for the new venue. 53 events have already been confirmed, of which 29 are international events, with over 236,000 delegate days secured to date set to generate revenue of €73m for the Irish economy.
Keith McCormack, Head of Business Tourism at Fáilte Ireland, stressed the overall importance of business tourism -
“Business tourism is a highly competitive game, with the work involved in bidding for an international conference akin to a mini-Olympics bid. However, the rewards are lucrative, with the average business traveller spending much more than a typical holidaymaker. In the coming year, we are committed to fighting for a bigger piece of the international conference market for Ireland Inc through a mixture of aggressive marketing and diplomatic persuasion.”
He added -
“The National Conference Centre will be opened for business this year and Fáilte Ireland has increased its marketing of business tourism with a particular emphasis on winning more international conferences and bringing in more delegates and revenue to these shores. This will include using the conference ambassador programme as well as a highly targeted sales campaign with a focus on the UK market.”
Ends
For further information please contact:
Alex Connolly
Head of Communications – 086 7966320/01 8847884
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