Conference & Meetings World Issue 145 | Page 57

Ireland

Top left: ICC Belfast at night
Bottom left: ICC Belfast Auditorium increasingly valuable to event planners: a genuine sense of place, giving delegates an experience they are unlikely to find anywhere else.
A sustainable choice With sustainability high on the agenda, organisers will be pleased to note that Belfast has been ranked among the global top 10 destinations in the Global Destination Sustainability Index for three consecutive years. The city is measuring tourism’ s carbon footprint. It is also working with partners through the Belfast Visitor Economy Net Zero Working Group to support practical action towards a lower-carbon visitor economy.
Getting there Belfast offers excellent connections, with two airports serving direct flights from across the UK and Europe. George Best Belfast City Airport is just 10 minutes from the city centre, while Belfast International Airport is a 30-minute journey away. For international delegates, Dublin Airport provides an excellent additional gateway, with a wide range of long-haul connections and a straightforward two-hour transfer to Belfast.
Día de los Muertos-inspired evening experience.“ ICC Belfast are willing partners in curating an event that showcases their local identity, as well as allowing us to be creative, which is something we truly value,” explained the RQA’ s Carl Lummis. The proof of the pudding? A three-year agreement between association and venue.
Meanwhile, Titanic Belfast provides an unforgettable setting rooted in the city’ s maritime heritage. The Titanic Suites can accommodate up to 1,500 guests reception-style, and delegates can make a grand entrance via a replica of the liner’ s famous Grand Staircase.
Venues such as The Europa Hotel, Belfast City Hall, Assembly Buildings,
Queen’ s University Belfast and Ulster University add further flexibility. They cater for everything from large conferences and gala dinners to meetings, receptions and exclusive events. Beyond capacity and facilities, Belfast’ s venues offer something
Left: Sky line view of Grand Central Hotel, Belfast
Team Belfast The welcoming spirit of the people of Belfast extends to the city’ s tourism and hospitality industry, with local teams committed to making every event work and every delegate feel at home. For organisers, this translates into the Team Belfast approach. Venues, hotels, suppliers, Visit Belfast and partners work together to deliver the best possible experience. From the early planning stages through to event delivery, partners are approachable, collaborative and genuinely invested in each event’ s success. Visit Belfast also manages the subvention process on behalf of Belfast City Council, helping organisers make their events in the city as successful as possible. n
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