Fáilte Ireland is in Washington DC this week to target major conventions and business tourism events worth almost €20 million as it promotes Ireland as a world-leading destination for conferences and meetings.
The Fáilte Ireland team provided a special briefing on Ireland’s world-class capabilities as a premier convention destination to 13 international association buyers based in Washington DC, many of which represent leading science and finance associations in America. Through these buyers, Ireland could attract major association conferences with up to 12,000 delegates between 2022 and 2026, generating almost €20 million for the economy.
As part of its trade mission to the US, Fáilte Ireland’s Meet in Ireland and Dublin Convention Bureau teams met with Ireland's Ambassador to the USA, Daniel Mulhall, to share ideas on how to bring more American conventions and business to Ireland.
Fáilte Ireland has already secured over €20 million in meetings, incentives, conference and events from the USA for 2018 alone, with a further €5 million secured for the coming years.
Ciara Gallagher, Meet in Ireland Manager at Fáilte Ireland, said, “Through this sales mission to Washington DC, Fáilte Ireland is directly promoting Ireland to some of the biggest and most influential science and finance associations in the US, with the potential to bring 12,000 delegates and €20 million worth of events to Ireland. We know that these association buyers are not only looking for world-class venues and facilities, they are seeking destinations with large clusters of aligned industries and industry leaders. Home to well over 1,000 multinationals and the brightest of minds, Ireland is well placed to deliver this as a centre of innovation, something which has big appeal for the association buyers here in Washington DC.”
Sam Johnston, Manager of Dublin Convention Bureau at Fáilte Ireland, added, “Winning these conferences brings much more than upfront revenue, they also leave a lasting legacy for Irish industries, in this case the finance and science sectors, as they have the opportunity to network and do business with some of the leading professionals in their field. It was a pleasure to meet with Ireland's Ambassador to the USA, Daniel Mulhall, to get his insights into the US market and how we can bring more business to Irish shores.”
© 2018 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
