Cork Convention Bureau continues to #KeepCorkMeeting at second annual Business Tourism Showcase

15th September 2014

Cork City Gaol was the venue for Cork Convention Bureau’s (CCB) second annual #KeepCorkMeeting Business Tourism Showcase on Thursday 11th September.

Over 120 meeting and conference organisers were invited from a wide selection of Cork companies including EMC, Stryker, Trend Micro, Boston Scientific, Merck Millipore and Pepsico. Also in attendance were Cork Conference Ambassadors from University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology, and a range of other organisations. All attendees got to sample the best of Cork’s artisan foods and meet with over 30 of Cork’s world class hotels, venues, and activity providers at the event, the aim of which was to highlight the range of options and unique activities that Cork has to offer meeting planners. Fáilte Ireland was also in attendance with details of their new funding supports that are designed to attract more corporate meetings into Ireland.

The main focus of the evening was to highlight Cork’s impressive and distinctive offering and its ability to successfully host international conferences and events. Earlier this year, CCB reported that it generated in excess of €8.2 million worth of international conference and meeting business for the Cork region. The latest figures are very promising, with the projected growth rate for the next three years at +8.5%. This could grow considerably with the completion of a dedicated convention centre. CCB also reported that return on Investment into the region for every €1 invested into CCB was an impressive 30:1; with the number of jobs supported by the CCB estimated at 300, based on Fáilte Ireland research figures.

Speaking at the #KeepCorkMeeting event, Evelyn O’Sullivan, Business Tourism Manager at Cork Convention Bureau said “CCB’s main aim is to attract more international conferences and meetings into Cork and we are finding one of the best ways of doing this is by working with local companies and organisations. To date we have had great success with our ‘Cork Needs You – Become a Conference Ambassador’ programme. We are continually encouraging Corkonians, who have the ability to win conferences and events, to contact us to see how we can help. We have all the necessary supports in place including access to funding and practical supports.”

With a team of just three fulltime staff, the CCB has been working non-stop promoting the region to national and international markets. Last year alone the CCB team hosted three major familiarisation visits from European destinations, attended 11 international trade shows, hosted multiple on-site visits from major national and international influencers and decision makers, held information events for the Cork Academia in UCC, Tyndall and CIT, organised ‘Keep Cork Meeting’ local events, plus numerous sales calls in Dublin, London, Manchester, Paris, and Brussels.

Further to these activities, CCB assisted over 30 Cork Conference Ambassadors with their bids and will continue to work with them to convert these into wins for Cork. CCB plans to expand its Conference Ambassador programme throughout 2014.

For anyone considering bringing an international conference or event back to Cork, the CCB is on hand to help bid for, secure, and organise it. For more information see www.corkconventionbureau.com.

END

Oonagh Montague, Ring of Cork, with Anne Cahill, Bryan Conlon from Fota House, Abboretum and Gardens pictured at Cork Convention Bureau’s (CCB) second annual #KeepCorkMeeting Business Tourism Showcase held at Cork City Gaol on Thursday 11th September

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