Business First September 2017 Business First September 2017 | Page 9
Cúchulainn Award celebrates
boosting connections between
Northern Ireland and America
he IrelandU.S. Council will present its
Cúchulainn Award in 2017 to Roy Adair,
Chief Executive of the Belfast Harbour
Commissioners. For more than a decade, Roy
Adair has managed a highlysuccessful
development phase of Belfast Harbour
delivering a dozen consecutive years of
growth. During this time, the business has
diversified through investment in both port
and real estate activities. Since he became
CEO in 2005, Belfast Harbour has invested
almost £250 million in capital projects. This
has included the single biggest capital
investment the port has ever made in the
form of the £50 million wind turbine
renewable energy terminal.
Brian W. Stack, the President of the Council
based in New York, said “The IrelandU.S.
Council is delighted to honour Roy Adair,
Chief Executive of the Belfast Harbour
Commissioners with the Council’s Cúchulainn
Award, which is designed to mark significant
achievement in building relations between
Northern Ireland and America.
“Cúchulainn is an Irish mythological hero
who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle
in the preChristian era. Born Sétanta, he
gained folklore fame when, it is said, he
successfully defended Ulster singlehandedly
against the armies of Queen Maeve of
Connacht in the famous tales of the Táin Bó
Cúailnge or Cattle Raid of Cooley.
“The Award will be a centrepiece of the
Council’s 55th Annual Dinner to be held at the
Metropolitan Club in New York City on
Thursday, November 9, 2017.”
Mr. Stack continued “During his period in
charge of the business in Belfast Roy Adair
has overseen continued growth in port trade
activities and the expansion of the real estate
side of the business.
“This has seen the City Quays development
emerge along the waterfront delivering
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muchneeded, topquality office space and
hotel rooms for Belfast and the regional
economy.
“The Harbour has also invested in new and
emerging industries exemplified by the recent
completion of the £20 million Belfast Harbour
Studios making Northern Ireland the best
regional film production location after
London in the UK and on the island of Ireland
– U.S. Hollywood titan Warner Brothers has
just signed on as its first major tenant.”
Mr. Stack added “Roy Adair has been a
staunch supporter of the Council for many
years, serving on our Board of Directors. In
addition, Roy has also served in several non
executive roles locally, nationally and
internationally including Chairman of
Business in the Community.
“In 2015, he was made Commander of the
British Empire (CBE) in recognition of his
services to the internat ional port community
and his work for charities. The mission of the
IrelandU.S. Council is to promote closer
commercial connections and deeper business
links between Ireland and the United States.
Our 2017 Recipient of the Council’s
Cúchulainn Award has made a major
contribution in this area. It is a pleasure for us
to acknowledge and celebrate his
achievements and his success.”
Mr Adair said: “The IrelandUS Council has
always played a pivotal role in the
development of transAtlantic trade links and
relationships, something which will become
even more valuable in the postBrexit era.
“It has been my privilege to represent
Northern Ireland and Belfast Harbour at
Council events, and while I am personally
delighted to receive this award, I am very
conscious that it is a reflection of the vision
and acumen of the Harbour’s Board and
employees.”
City Airport
shortlisted for
global aviation
award
eorge Best Belfast City Airport has been
nominated for one of the most
prestigious global marketing awards in
aviation for a second successive year.
The airport has been shortlisted for the
‘Under 4 Million Passenger’ category of the
World Routes Marketing Awards.
Voted for by airlines, the awards highlight
airports which have excelled in route
development marketing with the winners
announced at the World Routes Conference
in Barcelona this September.
The accolade follows the Routes Europe
Conference which was cohosted by the
airport in Belfast earlier this year.
Katy Best, Commercial and Marketing
Manager at Belfast City Airport, said:
“The World Routes Marketing Awards are
some of the most prestigious in the industry
and to have our work recognised by airlines
as worldclass is testament to the work we do
marketing Belfast City Airport, and indeed
Belfast and Northern Ireland as a destination,
to potential new airlines.”
The airport has been named the Most
Convenient Airport in the World in a study by
The Telegraph and more recently named
Northern Ireland’s Responsible Company of
the Year at the annual Business in the
Community Responsible Business Awards.
Katy added: “This year has so far been
another successful one for Belfast City
Airport with the Routes Europe Conference
in April presenting a wonderful opportunity
to showcase Belfast and Northern Ireland to
airlines from across Europe, and further
afield.
“We have very strong relationships with all
our airline partners and work closely
together to ensure a presence in the market,
which for us includes both business and
leisure customers. “
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