Cork Convention Bureau promotes ‘What’s new in Cork’ at annual Keep Cork Meeting Event

Over 200 people attended Cork Convention Bureau’s sixth annual Keep Cork Meeting Event, which was held in Páirc Uí Chaoimh today.

The theme of this year’s event was ‘What’s new in Cork’ which highlights the new venues, conference facilities and meeting spaces that are on offer in Cork in 2018 as well as encouraging new ideas on how to market Cork as a business tourism destination. The format of the event was slightly changed this year also, moving to a morning event, which was very well received by attendees.

Keep Cork Meeting aims to showcase to the business community nationally and internationally the breadth of Cork’s venues suitable for meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE).

MC for the day was Kevin Cullinane of Cork Airport, who expertly entertained the 200 guests made up of meeting planners and organisers from multinational and corporate companies as well as those bidding for international conferences.

There were also 35 exhibitors present from hotels, venues and various activity providers to give a real flavour of what’s on offer in Cork.

Recent research by Cork City Council has predicted that new hotel developments will boost total hotel bed capacity by 30%. This represents a prime opportunity to attract more delegates to Cork.

The Cork Convention Bureau promotes the Cork region as a destination for business tourism by collaborating with various interest groups in attracting visitors to the city and county.

Séamus Heaney, Chairman, Cork Convention Bureau, said, “When highlighting the value of business tourism to the Cork region, it’s important to note that one business tourist is worth three times more, in revenue terms, than a leisure tourist. Indeed, a recent survey by Fáilte Ireland found that the economic value of an international conference delegate was €1,600 per delegate.

“In 2017, the value of international business conferences to Cork was over €12 million and we’ve already secured €10 million worth of business for 2018.  This level of success wouldn’t be possible without the support of both local authorities – Cork City and County Councils – along with Fáilte Ireland, the local branch of the Irish Hotels Federation, Cork Airport Authority, Cork Chamber and all our Cork Convention Bureau members.

“I would also like to pay tribute to the Keep Cork Meeting Working Group who have worked tirelessly over the past number of months to make this event a success – Kylie Basnett, Trigon Hotels; Donna Mannion, Clayton Cork City Hotel; Fiona O’Donoghue, Carrigaline Court; Adrienne Deasy, Brown Thomas; Margaret O’Regan, Event Plan and Niamh Kenneally, Cork City Gaol.”