Louisa Daley talks to Deborah Collins, head of business tourism at Visit Belfast, about what’s on the horizon for the region this year and beyond.
For our UK and Ireland issue, we not only wanted to offer insight into what the UK has to offer business events, but we also to discover what Ireland has to offer, too. In particular, we wanted to look at Belfast, a region that has a range of venues and a busy calendar ahead. To find out more, Louisa Daley spoke to Deborah Collins, head of business tourism at Visit Belfast.
2022/2023 plans
Despite the caution in booking, as well as the re-planning and postponement of events due to the pandemic “Belfast has some exciting events coming to the city in 2022 and 2023,” beams Deborah Collins, head of business tourism at Visit Belfast. “We are set for a bumper few months ahead with more than 100 events, worth £62million, coming to the region.”
For example, this spring Belfast will welcome the Microbiology Society Annual Conference, which will bring over 1,000 delegates to ICC Belfast, with a variety of social events taking place across the city. In the summer, Belfast will host the Intensive Care Society State of the Art Congress, the largest multi-professional critical care membership organisation in the UK.
“Moving into 2023, there are also a number of large international events taking place in Belfast,” says Collins. From the 23rd International Conference on Composite Materials (ICCM), to 28th European Association of Archaeologists Annual Meeting and One Young World Summit, Belfast is expected to bring together a range of event professionals and delegates.
Global appeal
With such a busy few years ahead, I ask Collins how Belfast was able to appeal to the global market, considering boarders are reopening as Covid-19 restrictions ease. “I think we have a really unique appeal because we are situated on the island of Ireland, but we are also still part of Great Britain,” she says.
From a national conference organiser perspective, Collins tells me visiting Belfast is “smooth and hassle-free” as testing or additional requirements are no longer needed.
There is also a similar ease found in an international perspective. “Belfast is easily accessible by three airports with 139 European and international destinations serviced,” she explains.
“It is fantastic to see the confidence slowly coming back and new routes frequently being announced,” adds Collins. So, whether you’re a local or international visitor, be assured Belfast is ready to welcome you.
In terms of the city’s tourist appeal, “Belfast’s entrepreneurial and industrious spirit is felt everywhere, from the Titanic quarter where we built ocean liners, to the cobbled streets of the Cathedral quarter lined with unique bars and independent restaurants,” says Collins. “It’s the warmth of our people that really makes us stand out and appeal to global guests.”
Venue round-up
If you want to host your next event in Belfast, or simply check out what venues the region has to offer, look no further. Here’s a round-up of the best five venues, according to Collins.
1. ICC Belfast
ICC Belfast offers 20 years’ experience in events, with over 7,000sqm of flexible space and a dedicated hybrid studio and technical team. ICC Belfast also became the first Green Meetings certified venue on the island of Ireland in 2022. “From a delegate and organiser point of view, there are over 5,000 bedspaces in the city, most of which are easily walkable from the riverside venue,” says Collins.
2. Assembly Buildings Conference Centre
Located in the centre of the city, the 21st century conferencing complex “blends the historic with the latest technology and modern facilities,” says Collins. Built in 1905, in the style of a Scottish Baronial Castle, the conference and meeting venue is capable of hosting anywhere from two to 1,150 delegates.
3. Queen’s University Belfast
The Victorian architecture, quiet parks and walkways, as well as the University atmosphere, combine to make this venue a popular choice with association conferences. Queen’s University Belfast can cater for up to 1,000 delegates, with a range of accommodation close by.
4. Crowne Plaza Belfast
Situated in the suburbs of Belfast, The Crowne Plaza hotel offers one of the biggest dedicated conference and meeting centres in Northern Ireland, with 21 meeting spaces and a total of 1,887sqm of meetings space. The new Great Oak Conference Centre features 12 meeting rooms, a dedicated reception area and break out spaces. Additionally, the recently renovated banquet suites and convention suites – The Grand Ballroom, Laganview Suite and Malone Suite – can cater for up to 1,400 delegates.
5. Titanic Exhibition Centre (TEC)
Located in the Titanic quarter, The TEC is an ideal venue for large-scale events, exhibitions, and trade shows. This 6,000sqm double skinned, tensioned fabric structure can host up to 3,000 guests and has welcomed World Snooker series, Festivals, and the World Council of Credit union’s grand finale banquet.
With so much to choose from, why not take your event to Belfast?
