Cork Convention Bureau Special Members Forum

13 May 2010

Business Tourism has proven to be a resilient sector for the hospitality industry; an all year round activity bringing visitors to Cork, visitors most often with a higher spend than the typical leisure visitor, an average of €1,400 spend per delegate while attending a conference. With this in mind and on the back of some major international wins for the Cork Convention Bureau, a special Members Forum was organised on Wednesday 12th May at the Metropole Hotel, Cork to brief member hotels of the recent and forthcoming work of the Cork Convention Bureau (CCB). 

The Cork Convention Bureau is an initiative of Cork Marketing Partnership, an organisation that brings together Cork Chamber, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Irish Hotel Federation-Cork, Cork Business Association, Port of Cork, Cork Airport Authority and Failte Ireland South West Region to target, resource and develop marketing projects that can share resources and build synergies to effectively market Cork.

The CCB prides itself on being an impartial resource to Conference Organisers and Venues and works closely with Fáilte Ireland and other stake holders in attracting National and International Conferences to Ireland and assisting the organisers to make this process easier.After an introduction from CCB Chairman Seamus Heaney, Evelyn O'Sullivan, General Manager of the CCB gave members an Overview of Activities planned for 2010.  Evelyn’s presentation included details of an innovative Ambassador Programme, being implemented to identify and develop Conference Ambassadors, people on the ground in Cork, or with a Cork connection who can use their influence with their colleagues to bring international conferences to Cork.

Evelyn stated "The Cork Convention Bureau is an impartial and neutral organisation, working with other stake holders whose focus is to bring business tourism to Cork city and county.  We want to work with our members and the public at large to identify individuals who can help all of us bring more business to Cork.  Once we have identified these key people, there are many ways the CCB can help, for example with securing financial support from Fáilte Ireland, assistance with the conference bid process, venue sourcing, ideas for tours and social programmes, even practical items like conference bags and marketing materials."There was also a special presentation by Fáilte Ireland on their work to develop this lucrative sector, including a presentation on the financial support available to conference organisers who wish to bring international conferences to Cork.  Speaking on behalf of Fáilte Ireland's Business Tourism Unit, Orla Canavan stated "The focus of the Business Tourism Unit is to position Ireland as a leading destination for conferences and incentive travel.  Currently we are investing in overseas markets that offer Ireland the most potential and we are working closely with the Cork Convention Bureau to bring as much international business to Cork as possible.”"We support the CCB Ambassador Programme and with Conference Ambassadors that have been identified by the CCB we can give assistance, both practical and financial, in going overseas to bid.  Then when the bid is successful we can provide a wealth of other resources.  With the CCB, we want to be a resource that academics, conference organisers and venues can tap into, as we all have the same end goal – generating more business for Cork."

The Cork Convention Bureau's membership is open to all hotels and venues operating in the Cork region. For any business who would like to benefit from the potential of Cork business tourism through associated services and products there is a special Associate Membership available.  For further information on the comprehensive work of the Cork Convention Bureau visit www.corkconventionbureau.com.