With some 1600 delegates, this week’s British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) Annual Congress won’t be missed in Belfast city centre.
Delegates for the 4 day event are already arriving in town and will be based at Belfast Waterfront from 13 – 16 September. And there’s no doubt the city’s hotels, bars, restaurants, retailers and transport providers will have a busy week. Indeed the congress is expected to generate in excess of £3million in economic impact for the city.
BOA is the UK’s largest surgical association, and thanks to the new Belfast Waterfront 2016 sees the Congress hosted in Belfast for the first time in its 98 year history.
The 4-day 2016 programme will focus on Clinical Leadership and Engagement with 100+ sessions, and guest speakers from NHS Improvement, the GMC and Medical Defence Union.
The congress organisers are delighted to welcome the following high profile guest speakers to the event:
- Professor Tim Briggs, National Director for Clinical Quality and Efficiency, Department of Health
- Professor Peter Kay, National Clinical Director for MSK, NHS England
- Martyn Porter, NJR Medical Director
- Clare Marx, President, Royal College of Surgeons of England
- Mike Zeiderman, National Professional Advisor for Surgical Specialities, CQC
Staff at Belfast Waterfront are gearing up for one of their biggest events since the extended venue opened in April this year. With a major accompanying exhibition of 70+ exhibitors, BOA Congress will see the new exhibition space put to good use. Alongside more traditional medical supplies and professional services, delegates will also be able to experience cutting edge technology from the medical sector as well as comparing advances in other industries – including the Tesla car – the first car to be displayed in the new venue.
BOA’s choice of Belfast as the location for their first full congress to take place in Northern Ireland came as the result of a joint bid between Belfast Waterfront and Visit Belfast, dating back to 2013 when the Waterfront extension was in the early stages of planning. The association had the foresight and ambition to bring the conference to the city based too on the strength of orthopaedic surgery locally.
Mike Kimmons CB, CEO of the Association comments: “When Belfast approached us in 2013 with the prospect of an extended Waterfront as a shiny new venue for our Congress the then Lord Mayor led from the front, ably supported by Visit Belfast. We were enthusiastically and professionally presented with a value proposition that we could not ignore. Are we happy with the outcome? You bet we are! The Waterfront is everything we were promised and more, while the warmth of the City’s welcome is outstanding, complemented by an exceptionally high quality shopping, leisure and dining experience that our delegates thoroughly enjoy.”
Catherine Toolan, Managing Director of Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Limited, is looking forward to welcoming the Congress:
“In the 4 short months since our opening, the team here at the Waterfront have proven that Belfast can deliver large scale events which bring substantial value to the city. We’re delighted that the BOA has chosen Belfast (and Belfast Waterfront) for their high profile Annual Congress and are looking forward to a successful working partnership.
“Our team are working hard to ensure every delegate fully enjoys their time in our venue and city. This means making sure our welcome, event technology, catering and most of all our famous Belfast hospitality, leave a lasting impression. But of course the delegates’ experience stretches beyond the Waterfront and we know that Team Belfast are with us every step of the way delivering the best possible accommodation, food, entertainment and transport.”
Gerry Lennon, Chief Executive of Visit Belfast added: “We are pleased to have been able to work with Belfast Waterfront and local ambassador Simon Henderson in attracting this conference to the city.
“This conference represents a fantastic opportunity to showcase Belfast as a vibrant destination to visitors from all over the UK. Conference delegates will experience a warm Belfast welcome from the moment they arrive, and with an economic impact of £3 million for the local economy, it will be great for the whole city.”
The £29.5m extension to Belfast Waterfront was funded by Belfast City Council, Tourism Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund, through the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland.