Belfast’s creativity and energy took centre stage today on Friday 29 April within the remodelled Belfast Waterfront as the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Arder Carson, unveiled the city’s new world-class conference facility.
Today’s official launch, featuring with a creative showcase of young talent performing in front of over 200 invited guests, comes just ahead of next week’s NI Chamber of Commerce dinner, which will be the first business event at the newly transformed riverside venue, followed by the first major conference on 11-13 May (the annual International Surgical Congress of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland).
It is expected the £29.5 million investment by Belfast City Council, Tourism Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund, through the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland, will bring in £100 million for the local economy over the next five years.
The benefits will ripple across the city, including more jobs in tourism and hospitality, more investment opportunities and a higher international profile. The effects are already being felt, with over ten new or extended hotel projects in the pipeline.
Belfast Waterfront has doubled in size to create an international venue capable of attracting major conferences with a fully flexible and integrated space catering for up to 5,000 delegates a day. Thirty international and national conferences have already been secured for the next three years – among them the BBC Good Food Show, the World Council of Credit Unions and the Royal College of Nursing.
Councillor Carson said: “Like the original decision to invest in the Laganside area back in 1997, the new look Belfast Waterfront in 2016 will elevate our city’s global profile, bringing growth, prosperity and opportunities to Belfast and its people. It is a cornerstone of our vision for city centre regeneration and will add to our reputation as a vibrant global brand.
“Visitors want to come here, thanks to our warm welcome, history, culture location and international reputation. We expect to get 50,000 delegate days each year by 2020 because of the new facilities, and two thirds of those are expected to be from out of state – bringing in an £45 million per year for the local economy each year from 2020.”
“The boost for our hotels, bars and restaurants will potentially create 1,500 jobs in the hospitality sector, bringing opportunities, particularly for our young people,” added the Lord Mayor.
“Business visitors spend more, stay longer and come back. Research shows delegates can spend £488 per day on taxis, meals and accommodation. On average, 25 percent stay on after a conference finishes to sightsee, and 30 percent return within two years for a leisure visit with family or friends.
“We have a growing reputation as a conference city and Belfast Waterfront now provides us with a world-class, high-tech venue on a par with other cities around the world.”
Jonathan Bell MLA, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, said that the building now stands as an excellent example of how Tourism NI and Belfast City Council are working together to strengthen economic and tourism infrastructure in the continuing drive towards making the tourism industry worth £1 billion to the economy by 2020.
“With cutting-edge technology and intuitively designed meeting space, the new centre will go above and beyond to improve the customer experience,” he explained.
“I have no doubt that these new facilities will enhance Belfast’s reputation as a key national and international conferencing destination, as well as developing the local business and leisure tourism sector.
“The future aspirations for Belfast Waterfront are therefore heavily intertwined with the wider tourism industry, and it will have a major role to play in helping Northern Ireland to steer the route to a stronger, more balanced and high-growth economy.”
Ellvena Graham, Chair of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Ltd Board, welcomed the start of the next chapter for the venue, and its key role in Belfast’s development.
“The new Belfast Waterfront is already building on its previous successes, opening up new market opportunities and generating increased business for the city as a whole,” she said.
“Looking to the future, a strong customer focus and an emphasis on partnership working across the city will ensure the venue becomes an integral part of the city’s tourism offering. In addition, the substantial economic benefits to the city will include increased employment opportunities and development of a stronger tourism infrastructure.”
Main image courtesy of TODD architects.
Other images courtesy of Belfast City Council.