“By attracting the international conference market, we aim to deliver 50,000 conference delegate days each year by 2021 across the city. This will generate £100 million in economic impact for Belfast and contribute to the creation of 1,500 jobs.”
Sharing their vision for ICC Belfast as a world-class venue for business tourism, Catherine Toolan and Chairman of the Board of Directors at ICC Belfast, Ellvena Graham OBE, welcomed over 100 guests from a range of businesses, industries and organisations to a breakfast briefing this morning.
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ellvena Graham stated: “We are focused on delivering ICC Belfast as a major venue for national and international conferences on the global stage. Today is a crucial step on the journey, and with the support of our partners Visit Belfast, Tourism NI and Belfast City Council, we updated the corporate community on opportunities for collaboration.
“The feedback we have already received is hugely positive. Everyone recognises that business tourism is critical to the economic prosperity of Belfast and Northern Ireland.”
The repositioning of ICC Belfast is now live and is supported by a new website www.ICCBelfast.com designed to support conference and event requirements twenty-four-seven. ICC Belfast also has a robust digital strategy aimed at selling the venue in a very competitive international market.
The venue hosted the World Health Organization’s International Healthy Cities Conference earlier this month and is gearing up to host the 47th ESCP Symposium on Clinical Pharmacy from 24 – 26 October. The combined economic impact generated for the local economy by these international association events is forecast at over £2m.
Catherine concluded: “Business tourism is so important to our economy. When we win a conference, everyone in the region can benefit socially, culturally and economically. To sum it up succinctly, when we win, everyone wins.”
At the official launch event of ICC Belfast are Chairman of the Board of Directors Ellvena Graham (centre) and ICC Belfast Managing Director Catherine Toolan, with Visit Belfast Chief Executive Gerry Lennon (left), Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown and Tourism NI CEO John McGrillen (right).
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