2011 has been a busy year on the conference, corporate meeting and incentive front for Ireland. We look back at some of the highlights and have a peek at what 2012 has to offer
Major conferences
In February, the 6th Congress of ECCO (the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation), hosted in the Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD) was a massive success highlighting Ireland’s appeal as a conference destination. Based on previous years, ECCO expected to attract in the region of 1,800 delegates. However over 3,000 people turned out, making this one of ECCO’s most successful conferences ever.
Dublin’s RDS played host to some of the world’s most stylish people in May, as it held the 2011 Organisation Mondiale Coiffure (OMC) European Hair and Beauty Championships.
Ireland beat off stiff competition from Turkey to hold the Association of South African Travel Agents annual conference in May. Some 180 attended the event at Druids Glen Resort in County Wicklow.
After six years of planning, the 58th World Statistics Congress was hosted in Dublin in August. The event attracted more than 2,200 attendees from 113 countries.
Creating client satisfaction
In June, Ireland received international plaudits and was voted “the destination with the highest client satisfaction” by influential US travel magazine, TravelAge West.
The reduction of VAT (value added tax) from 13.5% to 9% on tourism-related services, introduced in July 2011, has had a positive effect on incentive trips, conferences and corporate meetings.
September saw The CCD celebrate its first anniversary. In its first 12 months, it held 278 events; it has confirmed bookings up until May 2015, and enquiries for as far out as 2021.
Events with a global audience
In May, images of some of Ireland’s leading venues and destinations were beamed around the world as Queen Elizabeth II and US President Barack Obama visited the country.
An estimated 500,000 visitors descended on Waterford city in July for the first leg of the Tall Ships Race 2011. Ireland’s south-east corner welcomed an international fleet of up to 50 tall ships. The race will return to Dublin city from 23-26 August 2012.
The highly successful The 2011 Solheim Cup drew 80,000 attendees in late September. The international golfing event for professional female golfers was beamed out to 400 million homes worldwide.
Creating strong impressions abroad
In October, 200 influential founders from the tech community attended the exclusive F.ounders conference in Dublin, to discuss a variety of issues including innovation, philanthropy and entrepreneurship. One stand out networking event saw delegates take a tour of Trinity College Dublin accompanied by U2’s Bono.
The first IMEX conference to be held outside Europe was held in Las Vegas in October. Team Ireland, which included 26 Irish trade partners, travelled to the highly successful IMEX America to promote what Ireland has to offer in the area of convention bureaux, hotels and venues.
In September, Fáilte Ireland launched the new and exciting Corporate Champion initiative. This encourages key influencers of Irish-based international companies to bring international meetings to Ireland. Fáilte Ireland’s Meet in Ireland team will offer assistance, advice and financial support for holding events in Ireland.
Looking to the future
Amid the hustle and bustle of 2011, Irish conference organisers planned ahead. This year was certainly a triumphant one on that score, with Ireland being named as the host country for the 2013 European Intelligent Transport Systems Congress; the International Council for Small Business 2014 World Conference; and the World Flower Show 2014, to name but a few. For the coming year, the Irish diary continues to be packed full of exciting conferences and events.
The largest of these events will undoubtedly be the 50th International Eucharistic Congress, which takes place in June 2012. A staggering 25,000 delegates are expected to attend each day of the congress.
The Dublin City of Science year-long festival will kick off in January, with Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF2012) running as part of this from 11-15 July. Some 5,000 international delegates are expected to attend the biggest general science conference in Europe.
Of course, 2012 will also see huge preparations get underway for Ireland’s biggest ever tourism initiative, The Gathering, which happens in 2013. It gives Irish people at home and abroad the motivation to become conference ambassadors and to bring international conferences to Ireland in 2013.
What does 2012 hold in store for you?