Northern Ireland’s conference scene

21st Century Belfast is a dynamic business destination, which balances modernity and innovation with a rich heritage and a thriving cultural scene. Belfast’s maritime heritage is currently providing a focal point for development as the city marks the centenary of the building and completion of the World’s most famous ship, RMS Titanic, which will add an extra dimension to what Belfast can offer the meetings and conference organiser.

Maritime heritage
A ‘titanic’ endeavor is underway in the former shipyards now known as the Titanic Quarter.  The Titanic Belfast building is currently being built to celebrate the industrial and maritime heritage, and spirit and vision of the people who built and sailed in RMS Titanic, adding a further dimension to what Belfast can offer the conference and meetings market.
    
Titanic Belfast promises to be an architectural gem and will be the largest built visitor attraction in Northern Ireland, opening in April 2012 it will include:
•    A major interactive exhibition housed in nine galleries over four floors
•    A Titanic-Themed Banqueting Suite, seating up-to 750 diners, with additional facilities for pre-function entertaining and exhibitions  
•    Gallery for temporary exhibitions
•    Community, arts and education facilities
•    Cafes, restaurants and shops
    Titanic Belfast will bring the story of the RMS Titanic home to

Belfast where she was conceived, designed, built and launched, and will provide a landmark tourism, leisure and cultural facility for Belfast and Northern Ireland.  
    
In the meantime, boat and walking tours of the docks and Pumphouse can be arranged for groups of various sizes. The Thompson Pumphouse and Graving Dock provides an alternative venue for smaller events too.

Meetings and Events in Belfast
The regeneration of Belfast over the last ten years has seen the city open of some of the finest conference and meeting facilities in these islands. An additional 31 per cent in accommodation provision provides the versatility to welcome conventions and events of varying sizes and scale hosted in purpose built venues such as the Waterfront Hall, Odyssey, the universities, and business hotels. More unusual venues include the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum.  

Belfast’s universities are centres of academic excellence and pioneering research which have been central to welcoming association conferences but also provide memorable conference and meeting venues, such as the extensively renovated Great Hall or seminar rooms located around the picturesque quadrangle of Queen’s University.
    
Claire Bradshaw, Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau’s conference manager is responsible for promoting Belfast as a conference and meetings destination and it buoyed by the on-going investment in the tourism and meetings infrastructure. She said: “Investment in our tourism and meetings infrastructure has been critical in attracting key associations business to Belfast. In the next year we will welcome the International Seed Federation, the World Transplant Games and the Soroptimists International GB and Ireland.
    
“As well as the more typical investment in purpose built venues and hotels, unique and unusual venues such as Belfast Castle, City Hall, the Ulster Museum and Crumlin Road Gaol have upgraded and refurbished their facilities to attract the conference, meetings and events market. Belfast’s arts and cultural scene is flourishing and investment in this sector is adding yet more interesting venues for meetings and conference organisers.              
The new £18m Lyric Theatre in Belfast’s Queens Quarter will raise its curtains again on the 1 of May, whilst the six-storey MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre) in the Cathedral Quarter will open its doors for the first time in February 2012. Both will offer world-class programmes of theatre and contemporary art, as well as versatile events space.”
    
Belfast’s conference venues and support services are known to work that extra bit harder in delivering a successful meeting or event. In partnership with the industry, the Convention Bureau is continually looking at value added services to attract conference and meetings business to Belfast. As Claire concludes: “We’re here to help. The services of the Bureau are free and include information gathering; the organisation of site inspections; venue and programme suggestions, the preparation of bid documents; literature for delegate packs; and a free on-line accommodation booking service.”

Derry
Derry is becoming an increasingly popular conference destination due to the development of venues such as the Millennium Forum, the ease of access via City of Derry Airport and cost effectiveness in comparison to other key UK cities.  
    
The region offers a mix of urban delights through the cultural city of Derry alongside the rural bliss which Donegal has to offer.      
    
Derry is a compact, accessible and culturally rich destination offering an array of meeting venues ranging from cultural places, art galleries, spectacular theatres and the Guildhall, the city’s premier civic centre.

Good times ahead
For the city of Derry-Londonderry the time is now; 2011 will see the opening of the city’s iconic Peace Bridge over the River Foyle, leading to he redevelopment of the historic Ebrington Barracks, where an outdoor arena and public space will bring new life and energy to the city centre.   
    
2012 welcomes the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race as the build up to the momentous year of 2013 which will mark the 400th anniversary of the historic city walls and celebrating winning the first ever UK City of Culture. There is no better time in this city’s history to bring your event to the area and allow your delegates to see what the region has to offer.
    
The City of Derry offers the experience of a buzzing, youthful city full of life alongside a destination steeped in history.
    
Experience the many cultural delights the city has to offer ranging from its newly regenerated Guildhall Square and learn about its famous history at award-winning museums.  
    
Soak up the atmosphere at one of the live music venues, intimate theatres and state of the art auditoriums.  
    
Chill out at an array of cosmopolitan cafes, bars and restaurants. Explore the world-class shopping centres and high quality craftshops the city has offer. Just a few minutes drive from Derry takes you to Donegal where you can enjoy stunning beaches and coastline, outdoor activities including angling and cycling, and of course some of Ireland’s finest links courses.

Easily accessible
The City of Derry airport, located just 7 miles from the city centre offers direct flights from London Stansted, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow Prestwick, Paris, Tenerife and Dublin. The city also boasts an excellent Airporter service which operates 12 daily scheduled services to Belfast International and Belfast City Airports.
    
Derry as a conference destination has a number of different types of venues on offer; the Millennium Forum is the only purpose built conference facility in the region which offers conferencing flexibility offering meeting space from two delegates to 1,040 delegates. The Millennium Forum has also 15 breakout room which can hold from 12 to 100 people.
    
Residential Properties in the city are 4* City Hotel, 4* Tower Hotel and 4* Hastings Everglades. The City Hotel, situated on the banks of the River Foyle, is home to an entire floor dedicated to conferencing. The venue can accommodate up to 350 delegates and offers a number of breakout rooms and exhibition space. Whilst the Hastings Everglades Hotel is located a couple of minutes from the city centre, this property has a Grand Ballroom which is one of the largest hotel suites in the North West and can accommodate up to 400 guests. The Tower Hotel is the only hotel located within the historic city walls and this hotel occupies a unique central location, making it the perfect venue for your meetings or conference, their Tyrconnell Suite can cater for up to 250 delegates.  

Country estates
Incentive properties available in the area are 4* Beech Hill Country House Hotel and Drenagh Estate. The Beech Hill Country House Hotel is idyllically situated amongst 32 acres of parkland. Famed for their gourmet cuisine, the new Beech Hill Marquee is the perfect location for gala dinners and can be themed or branded to suit any concept. Whilst Drenagh Estate is a well established country house set on 100 acres, Drenagh’s long established family and ancient heritage, beautiful antiques and spectacular setting ensures it is a much sought after venue.
    
The Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau is the lead organisation in promoting the City of Derry and it’s hinterland as a conference destination. The Bureau is a one stop shop offering free, impartial advice to assist with all aspects of planning your conference or event:
•    Sourcing venue availability and collating quotations
•    Co-ordinating site visits
•    Co-ordinating social programmes and entertainment
•    Arranging Civic Receptions
•    Negotiating accommodation rates
•    Providing promotional literature for delegates
•    Liasing with local service providers
•    Providing transport and access information

Belfast: www.belfastconventionbureau.com
Derry: www.derryvisitor.com

Belfast – interesting facts

Pneumatic tyres were developed by vet John Boyd Dunlop, in his workshop off May Street in 1888.

The first mummy ever to be displayed outside Egypt created a sensation when unwrapped in Belfast in 1835. Princess Takabuti is still one of the great attractions of the Ulster Museum

The titanic took three years to complete. Harland & Wolff employed 15,000, with up to 5,000 working on her on her at any one time.

Belfast’s Sirocco Works invented air conditioning and the Royal Victoria Hospital became the first building in the world to be fitted with air conditioning.

Famous sons and daughters: the writer CS Lewis; the musicians Ruby Murray, Van Morrison and James Galway; painters William Conor and John Luke; actors Ciaran Hinds and Kenneth Branagh