As part of a visit to Northern Ireland for the G8 Summit, US President Barack Obama took time to visit the Belfast Wateont Conference Centre.
The President delivered a speech at the centre promoting peace to Northern Ireland’s next generation of leaders.
The Wateont previously welcomed US President Bill Clinton in 1998.
An audience of 2,000 local students, community and business leaders, as well as dignitaries, gathered in the Wateont’s auditorium, to hear the President Obama.
Jennifer Patterson, Revenue and Business Generation Manager at Belfast Wateont Conference Centre, said: “It was an extraordinary honour to play host to such a historic event and to be the first venue in Belfast to welcome US President Barack Obama and First Lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama, to Northern Ireland.
“The event ran like clockwork thanks to the considerable work of our operational team, who behind the scenes collaborated with many third parties to manage such a significant event alongside an intense security operation.”
The White House Presidential Advance team had spent a week working with the Wateont team on the ops side of the event. The Wateont is now looking forward to a £30m planned extension opening in 2016.
Do you have news for CN? Email: pcolston@mashmedia.net
