largest city was built on a rich history of shipbuilding and linen manufacture, and today its waterfront has found a new lease of life. Belfast welcomed its first cruise ship in 1996. By 2023 that number had passed 150, with a record 158 calls bringing around 320,000 passengers and crew from 32 cruise operators. Building on that success, a new £ 90 million deep-water quay is due to be ready for the 2028 cruise season, capable of welcoming some of the world’ s largest cruise liners.

A changing economy Belfast’ s services sector is flourishing and now accounts for around threequarters of jobs. High-tech names such as Airbus, Boeing and Thales maintain a strong presence in aerospace and

defence. Since the 1990s the city has been a popular location for contact centres and other back-office functions, and the UK Treasury recognises Belfast as a key fintech hub.

Belfast is also becoming a major player in film and TV, with two large studio complexes. Titanic Studios on Queen’ s Island and Belfast Harbour Studios have already attracted productions for Amazon, HBO, Paramount and Universal.

Large-scale redevelopment has transformed much of the city, yet the centre remains compact and highly walkable. Many of Belfast’ s hotels, conference venues, restaurants and attractions are located close to one another. The choice of accommodation is impressive, from international brands such as Hilton and IHG to homegrown groups such as Galgorm and Hastings

Top rightt: City Hall Belfast

Bottom right: Europa Hotel,

Belfast City Centre, Co. Antrim( External entrance)

Left: Commercial Court Belfast

Hotels. With more than 10,000 bedspaces across the city, there are options to suit every budget, group size and style, from contemporary citycentre hotels and luxury properties to boutique and independent stays.

World-class venues When it comes to meetings and events, there is a huge choice to meet the needs of each individual event planner. Belfast offers a diverse portfolio of venues, combining purpose-built conference facilities with historic, cultural and academic spaces.

ICC Belfast is Northern Ireland’ s only purpose-built international convention centre. It can accommodate large-scale conferences of up to 5,000 delegates and offers 7,000 square metres of flexible event space, where the city centre meets the riverside. Two multipurpose halls, 20 meeting rooms and a 360-seat studio, coupled with excellent transport links and state-of-the-art event technology, complete the offer.

The Research Quality Association brought its international community to ICC Belfast in 2025. The packed three-day programme moved between conference streams, keynotes, roundtables, Innovation Theatres, exhibition and networking. The venue was then transformed for an immersive