Fáilte Ireland has joined forces with the University of Galway to launch its first Conference Ambassador recruitment event, aimed at bringing academics on board to drive more international conferences to the Galway region.
The recruitment event, which took place at the University of Galway in January, provided opportunities for Fáilte Ireland and the university to engage with, motivate and inform future potential conference ambassadors.
Conference Ambassador Programme
Fáilte Ireland’s Conference Ambassador Programme was developed to support individuals who want to host an international conference in Ireland.
The programme provides assistance and financial support at every stage of the conference, from the initial bidding through to the marketing and promotion of the event.
Ambassadors are sector leaders or influencers in their fields, and since the programme was established in 2009, Fáilte Ireland has supported almost 3,000 ambassadors in their bids to host conferences and events worth more than €2 billion.
‘International Conference Business’
“Business events and conferences are one of the highest-yielding sectors in tourism, with each international conference delegate valued at more than three times the value of a leisure visitor,” said Paul Mockler, head of commercial development with Fáilte Ireland.
“Fáilte Ireland currently has a pipeline of €1.1 billion worth of international conference business for Ireland, which includes 72 international events scheduled to take place at the University of Galway, with expected attendance of 16,278 international delegates valued at €35 million for the region.”
Global Collaborations
Fáilte Ireland noted that Galway is an important hub for international conferences, and the University of Galway is expecting more than 6,000 delegates to attend 30 conferences on the campus this year.
These conferences bring together academics, researchers, medics, industry leaders, policymakers and others to share insights and research, leading to global collaborations.
‘Creating Opportunities’
“Hosting a conference brings enormous benefit, on both a personal and institutional level, and from a higher-education perspective, it helps to elevate an academic’s profile, as well as the reputation of their discipline, school and institution,” said the president of the University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh.
“It provides a significant opportunity to showcase and promote research and findings, network with experts in the same field of research, and share best practice.
“It can support career development, enhance academic reputation as a leading voice and mind amongst peers and the wider industry, as well as creating opportunities for further collaborations and grant funding.”
