Elite group representing €35 million worth of revenue to arrive in the capital
Up to 120 of the world’s top international associations will arrive in Dublin later this week to attend the Union of International Associations Round Table Event. The conference will take place on 13th and 14th November and 2014 will be the first time the event will be hosted outside of Brussels.
This elite group represent various associations from across the globe and have the capacity to bring significant future conferences to Ireland. Associations attending include Agency for International Trade Information & Cooperation, Association for Borderlands Studies and International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. The arrival of so many such groupings to Ireland provides a unique opportunity to pitch to a large group of potential future delegates. If all the associations attending this week’s event were to subsequently bring their own conferences to Ireland, it would generate 100,000 bednights for the capital and approximately €35 million in revenue.
Speaking in advance of the conference, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe said:
‘It is a great coup for Dublin to secure this conference showing clear evidence that the Government’s plans to attract high-profile conferences to Ireland are working. So far in 2014 more than 60,000 delegates, worth €85 million to the economy, have attended a conference in Ireland. Fáilte Ireland has been actively involved in securing these conferences through its financial and practical support schemes, and we can expect further good news in the future with €45 million’s worth of revenue already confirmed for 2015 and a further €85 million pending.’
Dublin’s bid to host the Union, an elite ‘association of associations’ so to speak, was led by Fáilte Ireland and commenting on the event, Sam Johnston from Fáilte Ireland said:
‘This is a great coup for Ireland, as it will allow us to showcase all we have to offer with regards to hosting the perfect conference or meeting. It is our experience that whenever key decision-makers have the opportunity to witness first-hand the quality of Ireland as a destination and the level of professionalism of the local business tourism sector, they are sold and determined to bring their business here.’
The hosting of this event has involved a ‘Team Ireland’ approach and has been a collaboration of key players in the conference industry under the Meet in Ireland brand. The local organising committee includes representatives from Fáilte Ireland, the Irish Hotels Federation, Conference Venues, the Incoming Tour Operators Association, the Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers and Tourism Ireland. This level of collaboration is a trait in which Ireland is particularly strong, providing advantages over other leading conference destinations.
The Business Tourism sector is worth €579 million a year supporting 19,000 jobs in Ireland. Growing 9% in 2013, the sector is one of the highest yield sectors in tourism.
ENDS