A New National Advertising Campaign to recruit Conference Ambassadors
A new advertising campaign designed to recruit new ‘conference ambassadors’ for Ireland was launched recently and is currently appearing in national newspapers.
The campaign, which is run by Fáilte Ireland’s Business Tourism department, outlines the achievements of a number of ambassadors who have helped bring major international conferences to Ireland and encourages others to consider whether there is a potential conference in their field of experience that could be hosted here.
One of the Conference Ambassadors featured in the campaign is Ken McManus, international director for the Irish Air Line Pilots Association. The Irish Air Line Pilots Association will host the International Federation of Airlines Pilots’ Associations in 2013. It is expecting 700 international delegates, with a potential value of EURlm.
Watch the below video to hear Ken McManus discuss what motivated him to bid to hold the IAPA conference in Ireland.
Fáilte Ireland’s Conference Ambassador programme facilitates individuals from a wide variety of professions and backgrounds in their quest to bring their next international Conference to Ireland. Practical and financial support is provided to Conference Ambassadors and international planners to ensure every association conference won for Ireland exceeds all expectations.
Emphasising the importance of the programme, Keith McCormack, Head of Business Tourism, Fáilte Ireland said:
“This scheme is bringing real results – delivering business and benefits to this country’s economic recovery. Since the start of the programme in 2009, our dedicated research team has identified and recruited 314 ‘conference ambassadors’ with the potential to bring in conferences worth millions to the Irish economy. So far, our ambassadors have already netted conferences worth €20m this year”.
“The work is on-going and currently we are financially supporting work towards winning a further 112 conferences which, if realised, will provide a potential €93m boost to the Irish economy”.
The advertising campaign also features:
-
Annette Kennedy, director of professional development with the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (INMO). The INMO is bidding for the Congress of the International Council of Nurses in 2017. If the conference is won for Ireland, it will bring 6,500 international delegates, with a potential value of EUR9. lm to the Irish economy.
-
Prof Fergal O’Brien and Dr Danny Kelly, who are bidding for the World Biomechanical Engineering Congress in 20 1 8. If the conference is won for Ireland, it will bring 3,000+ international delegates, with a potential value of EUR4.2m.
-
Kitty Gallagher- president of the Association of Irish Floral Artists. The association is hosting World Floral Artists Conference and Exhibition in the RDS Dublin in 2014. It is expecting 5,000 international attendees, with a potential value of EUR7m.
Click here to see the Advertisements.
Fáilte Ireland will be investing EUR3.7m in the business tourism sector this year including funding for a wide range of supports available to potential conference ambassadors.