Conference Wins To Generate £45m For City - Visit Belfast

Conference wins during the financial year of 2015/16 will generate a record-breaking £45 million worth of economic benefit over the next number of years, according to Visit Belfast.

The tourism group made the announcement as it unveiled its plans for 2016/17, and said that the news represents a positive step for conference tourism in the city, and the wider tourism industry. These conferences will bring 30,000 delegates to Belfast and will generate more than 100,000 bed-nights for the local hotel sector.

Conference tourism represents an important sector of the tourism economy in Belfast. As well as bringing mid-week, year-round trade for the tourism and hospitality industries and complimenting the growing leisure tourism market in the city, business travellers and conference delegates are typically high-spending visitors that bring trade to a wide range of local businesses.

Visit Belfast said that the £45 million in economic benefit will come from conferences which are due to take place in Belfast from 2016 onwards and includes high-profile conferences such as the Royal College of Nursing's Annual Congress which will bring 5,000 delegates to Belfast in 2018. The Congress – the largest ever – will also see around 100 meetings and social events take place in a number of venues across the city over five days, bringing an expected £5 million in economic benefit for the city.

Welcoming the news, Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, said: "Business tourism in Belfast has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and the city now competes with the very best. 2016 will be a watershed year for Belfast, with the re-opening of the Belfast Waterfront allowing us to welcome bigger conferences than ever before.

"Tourism is an extremely important driver for Belfast's overall economy, and we are committed to doubling the value of this sector to £870 million by 2020. The work of Visit Belfast and the wider tourism industry is to be commended."

Gerry Lennon, Chief Executive of Visit Belfast, added: "Achieving this economic benefit for the city is something that everyone involved in tourism can be proud of – it really is a team effort. 

"Visit Belfast has continually invested in the promotion of Belfast as a vibrant conference and business tourism destination, proactively selling the city in the important GB, North American and European markets but, without a strong product offering across the sector, from our partners in conference venues, hotels, transport provision and restaurants and bars, as well as improvement in our air access, and commitment from the government to growing tourism, this £45 million could not have been achieved.

"2015/16 was the biggest year yet for conference tourism in Belfast but, given that we have seen steady growth over the last number of years, coupled with continued investment in conference venues and hotel accommodation, we expect this growth to continue in the years ahead."

(MH)