ireland destination report

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H EAD Q UARTERS Destination Report Ireland is a special edition of Headquarters Magazine - March 2014 Published by Meeting Media Company (Europe) www.headquartersmagazine.com - [email protected]

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A Special Destination Report on Ireland as an association destination

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Page 1: Ireland Destination Report

headquarters Destination Report Ireland

is a special edition of

Headquarters Magazine -

March 2014Published by Meeting Media Company (Europe) www.headquartersmagazine.com - [email protected]

Page 2: Ireland Destination Report

Belfast

Dublin

Limerick

CorkKillarney

Dublin is an inspirational city steeped in tradition. Home of the award-winning, carbon-neutral Convention Centre Dublin, it’s a meeting point of the contemporary and the historic where a warm welcome awaits.

Belfast is a city of Titanic ambition. The past decade has seen a number of high profile renovations works - including the Waterfront extension project - that have pushed Belfast into the top spot for international meetings.

A confident modern city set against

the backdrop of charming medieval

architecture, Derry-Londonderry is

a melting pot of history and heritage

and a top-class meeting spot for

congresses.

A vibrant city famed for its festivals, food and sense of fun, Cork is perhaps Europe’s best kept secret and is well-versed in welcoming international congresses.

The ‘Kingdom of Kerry’ is located

in Ireland’s breathtakingly beauti-

ful south-west corner. It boasts a

famously rich green landscape of

wild, windswept vistas and the world-

class Killarney Convention Centre.

The picturesque wild scenery of

the countryside combined with the

cosmopolitan allure of the buzzing

city of Limerick make the Shannon

Region a great contender for a con-

ference in Ireland.

www.meetinireland.com2

Derry-Londonderry

Page 3: Ireland Destination Report

3

The island of Ireland is a world-class congress destination where a hard-working attitude and genuine warmth of spirit go hand in hand. Located just a short distance from anywhere in Europe, Ireland is a fully-fledged player on the international meetings market thanks to a host of charming cities with an inspiring selection of modern conference facilities and excellent accommodation.

A number of infrastructural projects have cemented Ireland’s reputation as a major player in the international congress market: from Dublin Airport’s additional T2 terminal to the Luas, Dublin’s

city centre tramline. But it was the opening of the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) that really set the pace: the 8,000-capacity, carbon-neutral CCD has led to more visitors, more hotels and more development, compelling us to shift our focus to developing our relationship with international associations.

Ireland continues to make headlines with events like the G8 Summit of World Leaders, state visits from President Obama and Queen Elizabeth and the opening of the Titanic Centre in Belfast. And there’s more to come: with the addition of a 2,500 km coastal car-touring route called the Wild Atlantic Way, added exhibition space to the Waterfront Hall in Belfast (to 4000m²) and plans for a large-scale conference centre for Cork.

Ireland is easily accessible: 12 international airports welcome direct daily flights from all over the world, while both Dublin and Belfast can boast convention centres right in the middle of the city centre. It’s also great value: Forbes Magazine recently tipped Ireland as the best place in the world to do business thanks to a favourable tax rate for corporates and a business-friendly environment for researchers, corporations and innovative start-ups. Ireland is world famous for angling, hiking and golf and for its proud heritage, while Dublin, Cork, Derry-Londonderry and Limerick have all won titles as cultural capitals.

Delegates tell us they adore the novel allure of this windswept Atlantic island with its breath-taking landscape; feedback shows 85% of them would recommend a meeting in Ireland, and congresses hosted here see the highest number of registrations in Europe. Above all, it’s the genuinely friendly people that really make meetings here unforgettable. Combined with a world-class level of professionalism, we think you’ll find Ireland a great contender as a destination for your congress.

Team Ireland is looking forward to helping you bring your conference to the island of Ireland and to wishing your delegates a heartfelt céad mile failte (100,000 welcomes).

Welcome to Ireland!

LoCateD juSt a ShoRt DiStanCe fRom anywheRe

in euRope, iReLanD iS a fuLLy-fLeDgeD pLayeR

on the inteRnationaL meetingS maRKet thanKS

to a hoSt of ChaRming CitieS

Danielle Neyts

Danielle NeytsMarket Representative BelgiumTourism IrelandT. +32 (0)2 643 2121www.meetinireland.be [email protected]

All texts of this supplement written by Rose Kelleher

Page 4: Ireland Destination Report

4

Dublin, Ireland’s capital city is renowned for its unique combination of warm hospitality and world-class professionalism. The friendly locals with their enviable passion for life entice visitors from all around the world, guaranteeing high attendance at any international event.

An inspiring young city steeped in tradition, it’s just a short jaunt from most major European centres, a constantly buzzing and innovative world-class metropolis where the hip and the historical sit side by side. Dublin can trace its origins back over 1,000 years from a small Viking settlement to the cosmopolitan city it is today. There are historical sites dotted all over the city, straddling both sides of the River Liffey: from the homes of literary luminaries like Yeats, Wilde and Beckett, to Dublin Castle and the flower-strewn St. Stephen’s Green. The cityscape is a charming blend of elegant Victorian and Georgian townhouses set among glittering modern structures - including, of course, the outstanding, award-winning Convention Centre Dublin.

Business tourism providers in Dublin such as hotels, venues and transport suppliers have a proven track record of welcoming

international delegates and meeting plan-ners with excellence. WIFI is free in hotels and conference venues and the city council has even extended this free service to parks, public spaces and public transport. Dublin is also a haven for international business: half of the world’s top fifty banks have operations here, and there are hundreds of international institutions doing business in the city. And let’s not forget technol-ogy: a number of innovative start-ups have all made Dublin their home; it hosts the European headquarters of companies such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, eBay and Twitter.

Dublin offers an impressive array of venues. Remarkable historical attractions like the jameson Distillery and the guinness Storehouse transform into great venues by night. For large gatherings, Dublin has a range of top-class options, from the historic

and beautiful RDS, the Doubletree by hilton - Burlington Road, the Citywest hotel and the gresham hotel, to the ultra-modern aviva Stadium, a spectacular venue awarded the BS8901 sustainability credentials. There’s a great range of comfortable and stylish accommodation in iconic locations with impeccable standards, whether it’s five-star, boutique hotels, guesthouses or campus self-catering, all ranging from modern to historical buildings.

And the hospitality sector is witnessing some exciting developments: a luxury design hotel called the marker hotel has opened in the heart of the capital’s business district, and the Ballsbridge hotel, home to one of Dublin’s largest ballrooms with space for up to 1,000 conference delegates, inau-gurated a new state of the art Conference Centre. Not to mention, the luxury Conrad hotel in Dublin, which was recognised as Ireland’s Leading Hotel at the World Travel Awards 2013, while the hilton Dublin on Charlemont place has been recognised as Ireland’s Leading Business Hotel.

Dublin

Love DubLin!Convention Centre Dublin

Page 5: Ireland Destination Report

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Dublin

teStimoniaLS“This is the best convention centre I have ever worked with… The staff were so well prepared and had such a great handle on things.” Cathy Ryan, Senior Director, International Meetings, HIMSS eHealth Week/WoHIT (May 2013, 1,500 delegates)

“On behalf of FIP, I would like to thank you all for your excellent work for our 2013 FIP Congress in Dublin. It was a great pleasure and a privilege to get to know and work with all of you. You left everyone with an excellent impression of the CCD and Dublin.” Mireille Swakhoven, Event Manager, International Pharmaceutical Federation (September 2013, 2,000 delegates)

DuBLin in numBeRS• Number of bedrooms: 20,000 • Largest city hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton -

Burlington Road 1,200 theatre style • Largest hotel: The CityWest Hotel

4,100 theatre style • Largest theatre style conference venue:

the RDS (Royal Dublin Society: 6,500)• Largest gala dinner venue: the RDS

(Royal Dublin Society), 3,200 banquet style • The Convention Centre Dublin (CCD):

22 rooms can accommodate a wide variety of events and layouts, whether you are hosting a local corporate board meeting for eight or an international association’s conference for 8,000. Space for 3,020 theatre style, seating for 2,000 banquet style and auditorium with tiered seating for 2,000.

Dublin scores top points for accessibility. The additional Terminal 2 at Dublin airport has made it one of the busiest airports in Europe, with direct flights daily from all over the world. Getting to and around the city is easier than ever: both the Air Coach and Dublin Bus now stop at the Convention Centre Dublin providing ease of access for international delegates coming from the air-port, and the new Leap card has also greatly improved the overall visitor experience in using public transport in the city.

DuBLin Convention BuReau anD the Convention CentRe DuBLinThe ultra-modern Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) (with a capacity up to 8000) is located right in Dublin’s city centre. The world’s first carbon neutral convention centre, boasts 22 multi-functional rooms with the latest technology throughout. The Dublin Convention Bureau team are on hand to provide the facilities, experience and sup-port needed to host memorable and stress-free international conferences. Contact the team to learn more about how Dublin can deliver your next inspiring event at [email protected], www.dublinconventionbureau.com or +353 (0) 1 8847271.

Aviva Stadium

Ha’Penny Bridge

Guinness Storehouse

Rooftop bar at The Marker Hotel

RDS

Page 6: Ireland Destination Report

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Belfast

Packed with history and culture, Belfast also boasts the youngest population in all of Europe and some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. It regularly outperforms bigger European cities in the fields of ICT, science, engineering, medicine and the cre-ative industries, and offers a host of unique experiences; from whiskey tasting, cookery schools, comedy performances, art exhibi-tions, Titanic-themed evenings and some of the best golf courses in the world. Take it from the Lonely Planet who recently advised readers to “get here early and enjoy it before the rest of the world arrives.”

Belfast is a city with a world-renowned sense of hospitality and a reputation for success-fully hosting large-scale events. Northern Ireland has previously welcomed the lead-ers of the G8 World Summit, as well as the World Police and Fire Games and the MTV European Music Awards. And it’s constantly growing: the world-class Belfast waterfront

venue is being extended to bring capacity up to 4,000m2 - it’s one of the largest urban waterfront regeneration projects in the world - and consistently ranks as one of the best convention centres in the world by AIPC. It’s ideally located at the heart of the city centre with riverside views and many hotels and attractions are within easy walk-ing distance. Since its inauguration in 1997, it has welcomed more than five million visitors, staged more than 3,000 entertain-ment events and hosted more than 2,000 conferences. The Waterfront won a bid to host the IMEKO (International Measurement Confederation) World Congress in 2018, where 1,000 scientists and engineers from 50 countries will spend five days in the beat-ing heart of the city.

Belfast also boasts the iconic titanic Belfast venue, which welcomed 1.1 million visi-tors in its first year after opening in 2012. Titanic Belfast is the perfect venue to offer

delegates an authentic social experience. This architecturally iconic building offers panoramic views over the slipways, the exact site where the giant structure of Titanic was built over 100 years ago. The SS Nomadic, the original tender ship to the Titanic, was restored to its former glory and opened as a new visitor attraction and event venue. It’s the perfect setting for drinks receptions and VIP dinners.

An architecturally stunning former prison at Crumlin Road gaol has been revamped as a tourist attraction and conference centre. The assembly Buildings have also been given a makeover, providing new, state-of-the-art technology in a historically rich environment and this exceptional city centre venue can accommodate as many as 1150 delegates. The nearby five-star merchant hotel was voted best hotel in the UK in international hotel awards, and of course, there’s the prestigious and historic Queen’s university, which boasts a capac-ity of up to 1,200 delegates. The grand opera house, which underwent a £9 mil-lion regeneration, is another of Belfast’s

Belfastcity of titanic ambition!

A city of Titanic ambition, Belfast is a buzzing capital that has been busy redefining itself. The city has invested over a billion pounds in infrastructure projects over the past decade and the result is a vibrant, positive and inspiring destination for international congresses.

Titanic Belfast

Page 7: Ireland Destination Report

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Belfast

Belfastcity of titanic ambition!

most prestigious buildings, and St george’s market, located just a stone’s throw away from Belfast Waterfront, is one of the city’s oldest attractions and another great hire-able venue, with 4,029m2 floor space.

In terms of accessibility, two airports connect Belfast to 33 UK and 41 European and International destinations, while London is only a one-hour flight away and Dublin is accessible by road and rail in just 90 minutes, giving congress delegates a wide range of travel options.

viSit BeLfaSt anD the Convention BuReauVisit Belfast’s conference, meetings and events team is a collection of local experts who specialise in all Belfast has to offer. They offer:• Free and impartial support and advice on

all aspects of holding events in the city. • Advice on how you can avail of subven-

tion funding towards the cost of hosting your congress in Belfast

• Arrangements for the Lord Mayor and Ministers to meet your delegates or

host an event in one of the exclusive and historic venues such as Belfast City Hall, Stormont Parliament Buildings and Hillsborough Castle.

• Organisation of city branding in the form of welcome banners and complimentary Belfast literature including up to date maps.

• Special offers and discounts for delegates from tourism industry members plus a free conference iPhone app.

• Constant support, they are on hand during your conference to advise you on top things to do and welcome delegates and partners to the city.

for more information on planning a memorable congress in Belfast, please contact [email protected], www.visit-belfast.com/conference or + 44 (0)28 9023 9026

BeLfaSt in numBeRS• Number of bedrooms: 7,000 • Largest hotel: Hastings Europa Hotel,

500 theatre style • Largest conference venue: Belfast

Waterfront, 2,223 theatre style • Largest gala dinner venue: The Kings

Hall Complex, 1,800 banquet style • Unique venue: Titanic Belfast,

950 banquet style. Titanic Belfast is the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience in an iconic building that offers spectacular conference and banqueting facilities in an array of architecturally unique spaces.

teStimoniaLSPrime Minister David Cameron stated that “Northern Ireland put on its best face and the whole world could see what a great place it is. Not only was it a very successful conference and very well managed and run, it was also one of the most peaceful G8”.

“Throughout Congress many delegates com-mented positively on the friendliness of the people of Belfast and vibrancy of the city.” Catherine Powell, Chair, BASPCAN British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (April 2012, 720 delegates). “I’ve worked with Visit Belfast since 2010 as a Belfast Ambassador. The whole team are extremely professional and you don’t have to be an expert to bring a conference or event to Belfast, because they are. Working with Visit Belfast, made my life easier and it was great to know I had an expert team behind me at every step.” Professor Linda Johnston, International Conference on NeoNatal Nursing (September 2013, 500 delegates).

Main Auditorium, Belfast Waterfront

Ulster Museum

Belfast City Hall

Page 8: Ireland Destination Report

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Derry-Londonderry

DeRRy-LonDonDeRRy in numBeRS• Number of bedrooms: 631 • Largest hotel: Hastings Everglades

Hotel, 400 theatre style • Largest conference venue: Millennium

Forum, 1,020 theatre style • Largest gala dinner venue: City Hotel,

300 banquet style • Unique venue: Guildhall, 260 banquet

style • Newest venue: St Columb’s Hall,

260 banquet style

Dominating the north-western corner of Ireland, the beautiful and dynamic city of Derry-Londonderry is a unique melting pot of history and heritage and Ireland’s only walled city. A confident modern capital set in medieval architecture; it is the perfect backdrop for memorable international meetings.

It’s legenderry!City Walls

St Columb’s Hall

Millennium Forum

Peace Bridge

A city famous for hosting countless annual festivals and events, Derry-Londonderry’s status as a centre of culture and creativity was confirmed with its nomination as the first UK City of Culture in 2013. It was also named the fourth best city in the world to visit in 2013 by the Lonely Planet. It’s fast developing a reputation as an ideal venue for international conferences and business gatherings thanks to a range of facilities and services that can rival any European confer-ence destination. The famed 17th century walls, which celebrated their 400th anniver-sary in 2013, are the perfect backdrop for activities for conference delegates such as period re-enactments and outdoor theatre shows. Delegates adore the quirky themed Craft village with activities like Guinness and Oyster receptions, céili Irish dancing, craft demonstrations, whiskey tasting and mini courses in the art of pouring the perfect pint of Guinness!

A compact city with most major venues and hotels within a five to ten minute walk

of each other, Derry-Londonderry offers a varied selection of quality accommoda-tion. Its range of venues includes the flag-ship millennium forum, located within the city walls, the newly restored historic St Columb’s hall right next door and the City hotel, located just a five minute walk away. This ‘Conference Quarter’ enables all three venues to work in partnership to host large conferences and events. And, the guildhall recently re-opened after exten-sive restorations, offering the perfect place to officially welcome your delegates to the city with a complimentary drinks reception hosted by the Lord Mayor.

Derry-Londonderry is well connected by road and air, and just 30 minutes’ drive away is Donegal and the Glenveagh National Park and Castle, set in stunning green landscape. 45 minutes’ drive in the other direction is Northern Ireland’s most visited attraction, the UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway and the Bushmills Distillery, as well as the celebrated, death-defying Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge.

DeRRy viSitoR anD Convention BuReauThe Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau promotes the city of Derry and the sur-rounding region. It’s a one-stop shop for free, impartial advice to help organisers plan their events in this inspiring city. Contact aoife thomas at Derry visitor & Convention Bureau for more information. [email protected], + 44 2871 377577, www.derryvisitor.com

Page 9: Ireland Destination Report

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Kerry

Romantic castles and stately manor homes dot the dramatic landscape of County Kerry. At its centre sits the 25,000-acre Killarney National Park, and if it’s typical lush Irish land-scape you’re after, look no further. The park’s famous Ring of Kerry is hugely popular with international visitors, and is one of the most unspoilt parts of the entire country. 

The town of Killarney is a great destination for a professional congress. With its breath-taking natural backdrop, the city’s charming old shop fronts, narrow lanes and brick footpaths are unforgettably picturesque. The Killarney Convention Centre offers an exceptional meetings experience with capacity to accommodate up to 2,000 delegates and 500 on-site guest rooms. The town itself boasts one of the highest concentrations of three- and five-star hotels in Ireland. With such a diverse range of accommodation, conference and meeting venues, Killarney has the proven capacity to cope with large-scale meetings, such as the national Labour Conference which attracted more than 4,000 delegates.

Famous for its friendly inhabitants, many of Killarney’s local pubs have live music almost every night, providing the perfect place to experience some good old Irish craic (fun). For excursions, the Ring of Kerry route

takes delegates over the mountainous spine of the Iveragh peninsula, taking in spectacular views of Dingle Bay and glacial lakes. Day trips to the Gap of Dunloe valley are very popular, and can be undertaken by pony and trap or on horseback, as are boat cruises along Killarney’s lakes to the medieval Ross Castle for a BBQ or gourmet picnic. The beautiful Victorian Muckross Estate, located on the shores of a lake, can be hired for receptions of up to 900 people in the marquee, where delegates can dine like the elegant 19th century Irish landowning class that once lived here.

Killarney is only a forty minute flight from Dublin and easily accessible from both Shannon and Cork airports. Apart from new US routes, there are daily flights to and from the UK and Frankfurt Hahn, as well as over 50 direct European flights to nearby Cork airport.

KeRRy Convention BuReauKerry Convention Bureau is dedicated to promoting Kerry as an exciting and alter-native conference and events destination. for more information on what the team can do for your congress, please contact [email protected], www.kerryconventionbureau.com or +353 (0) 646637928

Welcome to the KIngdom of KerryAffectionately known as ‘the Kingdom’, Kerry is located in Ireland’s breathtakingly beautiful southwest corner. Home to a lustrous green landscape and wild, windswept vistas, it’s also got the country’s second largest conference venue.

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Gap of Dunloe

KiLLaRney in numBeRS• Number of bedrooms: 2,500 bedrooms • Largest hotel: The Malton Hotel,

950 theatre style • Largest conference venue: Killarney

Convention Centre, 2,500 theatre style • Largest gala dinner venue: Killarney

Convention Centre, 2,430 banquet style

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Muckross House and Gardens

Killarney Convention Centre

Page 10: Ireland Destination Report

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Limerick

Limerick is Ireland’s third largest urban area and the fastest growing commercial and industrial centre in the country. A lively arts scene and café culture contribute to its reputation as a thriving youthful hotspot, and it has been awarded Ireland’s first National City of Culture accolade. The friendly locals, riverside charm and ease of access to the celebrated surrounding countryside make it a firm favourite among international associations. The region is served by nearby Shannon International Airport, and thanks to a myriad of purpose-built conference facilities and top-class accommodation, Limerick is a clear favourite for congresses.

The city is surrounded on all sides by the famed romantic countryside, including County Clare and the Cliffs of Moher. The entire region is dotted with Norman castles, gothic mansions and modern hotels, as well as country houses, a music centre, and no fewer than three academic institutions, offering the very best in conference facilities. The university of Limerick can host over 2,000 guests, while glor irish music Centre in the charming market town of Ennis can offer 500 people a unique venue all within walking distance of a selection of great accommodation.

Entertainment opportunities are endless in Limerick and its surroundings, from medieval banquets in ancient castles to Irish music nights, greyhound racing, theatre shows, concerts, music pubs, and good food circle dining. The meandering river Shannon and its lakes, rivers and valleys are perfect for hiking, golfing, angling and surfing for unforgettable pre- or post-conference activities. An exciting infrastructure projectcalled the wild atlantic way, is Ireland’s first long-distance touring route, stretching along the Atlantic coast from Donegal to West Cork, traversing the entire Shannon region.

Shannon ConfeRenCe anD SpoRtS BuReauThe Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau offers its services free of charge to potential event organisers of association congresses, working with clients to identify the best venue and professional service pro-viders in order to ensure a truly memorable event experience.

for more information contact Karen Brosnahan on + 353 61 575487 or [email protected], www.conferenceandsportsbureau.com

meet In Ireland’s WIld WestThe picture-postcard Shannon region on Ireland’s western coast boasts one of the world’s most spectacular natural landscapes. Combining the cosmopolitan allure of Limerick City with the wild and windswept countryside, it ticks all the right boxes for a truly memorable conference in Ireland.

LimeRiCK in numBeRS• Number of bedrooms: 7,000 • Largest hotel: the Strand Hotel,

600 theatre style • Largest conference venue: University of

Limerick, 1,000 auditorium • Largest gala dinner venue: Thomond

Park, 450 banquet style

Cliffs of Moher Limerick City

Adare Manor

Page 11: Ireland Destination Report

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Cork

With world-class conference facilities and a selection of internationally acclaimed hotels including 24 four-star and 3 five star hotels, Cork is well-versed in welcoming interna-tional congresses. There is accommodation for over 2,500 delegates in the city centre and 8,500 across the county, with Cork City hall offering the largest meeting space with capacity for up to 900 delegates (the-atre style). Other large venues include the modern Silversprings hotel or the luxury Rochestown park hotel. Cork also boasts a number of one-of-a-kind boutique hotels, such as Castlemartyr Resort hotel and hayfield manor hotel.

In an exciting development, a multimillion euro fund was earmarked for the construction of an event and conference centre in Cork. The multi-purpose centre will be an exciting addition to Cork’s already stellar meetings offer. Large enough for a great selection of venues, accommodation options and attractions, Cork is easy to navigate on foot whilst still offering that small town warmth. And business is big here - it is home to many prominent multinational companies including a number of pharmaceutical giants, and meetings are key to its success.

One of Ireland’s festival hotspots, Cork has a strong festival programme that attracts the best in choral, film, jazz, folk and literary talent all year round. The green city parks are popular for outdoor games and gourmet picnics, as are trips to the English Market. Cork Harbour is the second largest natural harbour in the world and a popular attraction for international guests, as are the superb restaurants and the beaches on the county’s endless coastline. Popular local outdoor pursuits include angling, diving, horse-riding, sea kayaking, windsurfing and golfing on some of the world’s best courses.

55 direct routes connect Cork to the UK and Europe, and the airport is only 10 minutes from the city centre. Trains depart hourly from Dublin to Cork, making connectivity between the two cities easy and flexible.

CoRK Convention BuReauCork Convention Bureau is your source of support and information on visiting Cork and the surrounding region. For impartial and free advice on organising your congress in Cork, please contact the team for more informa-tion at [email protected], www.corkconventionbureau.com or +353 (0)21 431 8036

CoRK in numBeRS• Number of bedrooms: 8,500 • Largest hotel: The Silver Springs Moran

Hotel, 800 theatre style • Largest conference venue: City Hall,

900 theatre style • Largest gala dinner venue: City Hall,

800 banquet style

A vibrant city and event hub, Cork city is Europe’s best kept secret and every conference organiser’s dream.

corKeurope’s best kept secret

The English Market, CorkCork City Hall

Old Head, Kinsale

Page 12: Ireland Destination Report

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We offer support and resources to help your congress in Ireland become a reality. We can help with...

Site viSitS: • fund and co-ordinate site visits with our

regional convention bureaus, including meeting facilities, hotels, social activities and attractions.

finanCiaL SuppoRt: • provide funding to assist in the prepa-

ration of a bid for an international conference

• help cover the cost of travel involved in your bid

• give you independent advice on all aspects of organising an international conference

• introduce you to Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs)

• provide you with letters of invitation/endorsement to support your bid document

maRKeting SuppoRt: • make a financial contribution towards the

marketing of your conference to encour-age a strong delegate turnout

• market your conference at preceding conferences

• offer support from colleagues in over 20 market offices worldwide

• provide destination material for delegates

mateRiaL:• provide sample bid documents, image

libraries, videos and sample presentations

how to appLy:Guidelines and application forms are avail-able on www.meetinireland.com/support Applications should be submitted in advance of the activity, whether bid, site inspection or for marketing the conference. The assessment process takes approxi-mately four weeks from receipt of the application. A letter of offer is issued when funding is awarded, outlining the conditions for the funding. Claims for funding can be submitted after the activity has taken place or after the conference

LoCaL offiCeS in euRope anD the uS

ireland Telephone: Orla Canavan / Azeta Seery +353 1 8847 169/189 Email: [email protected] web: www.meetinireland.com

Belgium Telephone: Danielle Neyts +32 2 643 21 21 Email: [email protected] web: www.meetinireland.be

Britain Telephone: Joyce McElroy +44 207 518 0800 Email: [email protected] web: www.meetinireland.co.uk

france Telephone: Caroline Phelan +33 1 53 43 12 14 Email: [email protected] web: www.meetinireland.fr

germany Telephone: Aoife Kernan +49 69 92 31 85 24 Email: [email protected] web: www.meetinireland.de

united States Telephone: Marie McKown +1 847 516 0038 Email: [email protected] web: www.meetinireland.com/uS

hoW can We help?

www.meetiniReLanD.Com/SuppoRt