7 April 2019
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
Cork Convention Bureau (CCB) will host its 7th annual business tourism showcase, Keep Cork Meeting, at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Thursday 11th April from 7.30am to 12 noon. The event is ideal for anyone involved in organising events and meetings in Cork.
Keep Cork Meeting, which is Ireland’s longest running meetings and events expo, aims to encourage more conferences, meetings and events in Cork, and gives hotels and other tourism service providers locally the opportunity to showcase their offering to the corporate market.
There will be over 40 exhibitors showcasing the very best of Cork’s business tourism offering, including accommodation options, unique Cork venues, food and drink options, activities and interactive experiences, from spa treatments to historical venues, cooking and tours.
Attendees will be also be given the opportunity to receive advice from event management experts in attendance and have one to one clinics with the Cork Convention Bureau team members about their supports.
Over 150 conference and event organisers across all sectors will attend, in addition to Conference/Event Ambassadors, who have already secured international events for Cork from 2019 up to 2023.
A buffet breakfast will be served and lots of prizes and goodies will be on offer for everyone in attendance.
Cork Convention Bureau aims to grow conference and business tourism by 8% annually to €14m, with each business delegate valued at €1600. “The business tourist contributes three times more to the local economy than the leisure tourist and many business tourists are now beginning to extend their stay by 2-4 days, which offers a huge opportunity for growth”, according to Evelyn O Sullivan, Manager at Cork Convention Bureau.
“The biggest growth opportunities are in areas like Agri and Food, Space, Neo Natal, and Maritime, and we are here to support anyone wishing to bring a conference to the Cork region. We can help with practical supports and free of charge impartial advice to ensure the smooth running and success of your event. We also hope that our event inspires local companies to think of Cork first when planning their next corporate event.”
Niamh McCarthy, Pirc U Chaoimh; Steve Cox, Rochestown Park Hotel and Margaret O’Regan, Event Plan pictured at the launch of Keep Cork Meeting 2019, the annual expo for hospitality and tourism operators in the Cork region hosted by Cork Convention Bureau. The event will take place in Pirc U Chaoimh, 11 April from 7.30am – noon.
Photo Joleen Cronin
The local hotel sector is also committed to enhancing its offering for business tourism. A recent survey of Cork hoteliers, conducted by the Cork branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), has shown that more than €11.5m was spent on renovations and improvements to hotels in the region in 2018, with more than 80% investing in capital expenditure, underlining their commitment to Cork’s conference and meetings industry. Established in 2007, Cork Convention Bureau is a public-private partnership that promotes the Cork region as a destination for business tourism (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) and generates opportunities for people to come to Cork. Cork Convention Bureau is part of Visit Cork, which also promotes leisure tourism through the Pure Cork brand. www.corkconventionbureau.com
If you wish to organise an event or conference in Cork, and would benefit from attending #KeepCorkMeeting, or if you would like to exhibit at the event, please contact anne.cahill@corkconventionbureau.com or register on https://corkconventionbureau.clr.events
