Over 100 delegates, including events planners and international trade press, gathered at Belfast Waterfront last week to experience at firsthand the best the city has to offer business travellers.
Belfast Waterfront in partnership with Tourism Northern Ireland and other key city providers delivered a one day programme that combined the perfect mix of business and city experience.
The morning session aptly titled ‘Evolve or Die’ kicked off with ground breaking business thinkers Dr Deep Parekh and Polo Looser discussing the key tools today’s businesses need to manage change. And with digital technology having a massive impact upon all industries, Mary Ann Pierce, founder and CEO of MAP Digital showcased how event planners can adopt these new technologies to enhance the delegate experience.
In keeping with the theme of change, delegates took a tour of the new Belfast, a city that has greatly benefited by continuous investment to successfully evolve into one Europe’s trendiest city destination for business travel.
The tours covered Titanic Belfast, the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience and Belfast’s political and historical sites, including the infamous Crumlin Road Gaol.
Catherine Toolan, Managing Director of Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Ltd, said: “We have a great offering, but there is only one way to truly experience the best of Belfast and that is to visit it. Today local and international event planners and international trade press got the opportunity to explore our city’s attractions, sample our culinary excellence, enjoy our famous Belfast hospitality and see how easy it is to travel to our shores. Foremost they will see how Belfast Waterfront’s 7,000m2 conference facility will help cement the city’s position as a leading business destination, by enabling Belfast to attract more international and national conferences.”
Naomi Waite, Tourism NI Director of Marketing commented: “Overseas tourism to Northern Ireland is worth over half a billion pounds to the local economy and our ambition is to grow exports to over £1 billion by 2025. Today’s event has helped to position Northern Ireland at the forefront of the minds of event planners and international trade press, showcasing our region as a must see destination for business and leisure.”
Guests returned to Belfast Waterfront in the evening for a pre St. Patrick’s Day celebration, where a spectacular line up of entertainment and performances by local artists awaited as well as a feast of delicious locally-sourced food.