Belfast is set to host a major international travel trade forum in June 2018. Held last year in New Orleans, the Hosts Global Forum will bring more than 100 of the world’s leading destination management companies and 100 of the world’s leading meeting and incentives buyers and planners to visit Belfast. This will be the first time the Hosts Global Forum has been held in Europe.
Tourism NI promoted the Hosts Global Forum at the global IMEX US conference which took place in Las Vegas last week.
John McGrillen, Tourism NI chief executive commented: “This is a fantastic win for tourism in Northern Ireland. Over 200 attendees with significant collective buying power will visit Belfast for the forum, and experience first-hand through a tailored familiarisation programme why Northern Ireland is a destination with global appeal for incentive business.
“Buyers in attendance account for approximately $2bn in business revenue all over the world. All major incentive based businesses will be present during the Belfast forum and the associated benefits of Hosts Global will be felt across the economy for years to come.”Marty MacKay, president of Global Alliance added; “I believe I speak for all of Hosts Global when I say we could not be more excited to have Northern Ireland host our clients and members in June of 2018. The momentum around the Forum is already growing, and we look forward to working closely with all our partners in Belfast to put together a conference full of excellent education and that showcases a destination we know everyone will fall in love with.”
The three-day event taking place 21-24 June 2018 will be delivered using a public and private sector delivery approach involving Hosts Global, Tourism NI, Hastings Hotels, Moloney & Kelly, Belfast City Council, Visit Belfast, Belfast Waterfront, Titanic Belfast and The Merchant Hotel.