DVCB Launch New Conference Ambassador Networking Series
Business Tourism is high on DVCB’s agenda as they launch the first of their ‘Ambassador Networking Series’. The DVCB Ambassador Programme is aimed at attracting conference business to the city and offers a step by step support service to encourage local academic, medical and business professionals to use their influence within their respective fields to promote Derry~Donegal as a destination for their next conference or meeting.
DVCB, in partnership with Ilex hosted an exclusive champagne and canapé evening to recognise the achievements of local Ambassadors who have recently secured a series of National and International conferences and events to the city including the Under 19 World Cricket Qualifiers 2-9 August 2011, the Political Studies Association of Ireland 19-21 October 2012 and the National Association of Medical Education Management 13-14 September 2013. Mayor of Derry Alderman Maurice Devenney officially opened the event at the Hastings Everglades Hotel followed by Karen Houlahan, Sales & Marketing Manager and Aoife Thomas, Business & Leisure Tourism Executive from Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau who delivered a presentation about the value of Business Tourism to the local economy and the available conference product in the region to 40 local professionals and invited guests from from the University of Ulster, the Western Health and Social Care Trust.
Dr Liz Doherty from the Arts and Humanities Research Institute at the University of Ulster spoke about ‘Role of the Ambassador’ and highlighted the support offered by DVCB during the ‘International Council for Traditional Music for Ireland’ event that the city hosted on 25-27 February 2011. Dr Doherty also detailed the ongoing assistance from DVCB during preparation for the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention which she has successfully secured for the city from 27 June – 1 July 2012.
Additionally, DVCB recently launched their new Derry/Donegal Conference at Ten Square Hotel, Belfast. Representatives from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the Confederation of British Industry, MCI, Invest NI, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Event Exhibition, Happening Event Management, Fire IMC and Mission PR attended the event which showcased the North West as a prime conference destination and highlighted the wealth of resources readily available for hosting successful meetings and conferences in the region.
Chief Executive of Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau, Catherine O’Connor said “Business Tourism is an extremely lucrative sector worth over £136 million to the NI economy, attracting almost half a million visitors in 2008. Approximately 30% of business visitors are likely to return to a host conference destination as a leisure visitor. Business Tourism has been highlighted by NITB as a priority sector and DVCB continues to take an aggressive approach to its promotion of the North West as a conference and event destination with a series of marketing activities including trade exhibitions, e-marketing campaigns, destination showcases and Ambassador Programme recruitment events planned for Autumn 2011.”