Effortlessly combining traditional and modern, historic and contemporary, dynamism and that famous Irish laid back attitude, Dublin is a uniquely charming destination. Scoring highly on organisers’ essential criteria such as accessibility, destination appeal and excellent service, it also stands out with a collection of individual and inspirational venues, high quality facilities and international calibre wow-factor.
Dublin Airport is among the 10 busiest airports in Europe in terms of international flights, serving 170 destinations via 98 airlines. Over the last 10 years €2bn has been invested to improve and modernise the passenger experience.
An extension of the original terminal was completed in 2009, and a brand new terminal will open in November this year. Other projects continue to improve movement into and across the airport. The city is also accessible by regular ferry services from the UK.
Because of the appeal of the destination, Dublin invariably attracts a higher delegate attendance than other comparable cities. While this is in part due to improved visibility over recent years, such success wouldn’t be possible without Dublin’s rich history and culture. The city is steeped in music and literature, with plenty to see and do for pre- and post tour options, social events and partner programmes. City, sea and countryside are all within easy reach, meaning activities such as golf, horse riding, hiking, teambuilding, sailing, windsurfing and canoeing are simply and quickly organised.
Modern and medieval
Dublin’s venue range includes the unusual, the traditional, and the purpose-built. Ancient castles, underground vaults and international breweries can make a conference or incentive trip stand out from the crowd, while those in search of inspiring modern architecture will enjoy the modern facilities of the city’s stadiums, colleges and the new Convention Centre Dublin, opening in September. This iconic landmark building combines a central location with magnificent views of the city, bay and mountains, offering state of the art facilities and an unrivalled service for delegations of up to 8,000. The city has around 20,000 hotel rooms – and a business delegate attending a qualifying conference is entitled to reclaim the VAT paid in respect of accommodation costs incurred while attending.
The Dublin Pass is the capital’s official visitor card. Available at a discounted price to conference delegates, it includes airport transfer, access to 31 of Dublin’s top attractions and many more added value facilities. Visiting groups don’t descend into a void of industry and development: over 1,200 overseas companies have chosen Ireland as their European base, representing a wide range of sectors including ICT, pharmaceuticals, health care, finance and international services.
Accessing Dublin’s perfect mix of ingredients is simple: the Dublin Convention Bureau offers a one stop shop for conference organisers, offering expert advice and comprehensive local knowledge to ensure a superlative event experience. Its extensive contact list, venue finding service and other core provisions are available without any fee or commission.
The Dublin Convention Bureau, Dublin Tourism Centre, Suffolk Street, Dublin 2; tel: +353 1 605 7774; www.dublinconventionbureau.com; dcb@dublinconventionbureau.com
