Why Ireland for your next meeting or incentive programme?

The Island of Ireland excels as a world-class destination for incentives and corporate meetings. Easily accessible, endlessly exciting and steeped in tradition, there is a place for every MICE guest: from the rugged natural beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way to the immersive experiences of the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland, the warm hospitality of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and the buzz of Dublin and Belfast.

Only In Ireland

It is the warm welcome of the people right across the Island of Ireland that makes every trip so memorable. The people are passionate about welcoming international visitors and showcasing the country’s culture. Ireland excels at offering unique experiences, from traditional music sessions in a local pub to outdoor excursions along scenic coastal paths, from story-telling sessions in thatched-roof cottages to archery lessons on castle grounds that look straight out of a fairy-tale. Whether attendees are foodies, outdoor adventurers or top performers seeking relaxation, they will find myriad memorable options that are a far cry from standard activities.

Beyond the unique experiences, meeting and incentive planners will also find a wealth of group-friendly facilities with more than 230 venues and hotel event spaces, over 65,000 hotel rooms and several convention centres. The nation's prominence on the international stage is underscored by the fact that it's home to 11 universities, more than 80 hospitals, around 1,200 multinational companies and more than 45 centres of excellence. In addition to being the only English-speaking gateway to the Eurozone, the future-focused destination offers strong industry sectors in the fields of pharmaceuticals, medical technology, information and communication technology and agriculture. Ireland is also the only European country with US pre-clearance, which is available at both Dublin and Shannon airports.

Travel essentials

Taxes: VAT, 23 per cent, is applied to food and drink served in restaurants and hotels, as well as hotel and guesthouse accommodation.

Convention Centres:

The Convention Centre Dublin: 4,500 sqm exhibit space; 22 meeting rooms

Killarney Convention Centre: 700 sqm exhibit space; 4 meeting rooms

ICC Belfast: 650 sqm exhibit space; 6 meeting rooms

CVB contact: Meet in Ireland

Local currency: Euro (Rep of Ireland) & Pound Sterling (Northern Ireland)

Power: 230 volt/50Hz

Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time

Transportation:

A short flight from most European cities, Ireland is extremely well connected and offers many international airports. Less than a six-hour flight from the East Coast of the United States, Ireland is the only European country that offers US Customs and Border Protection Preclearance, available at Dublin and Shannon airports.

Major airports include:

• Dublin Airport (DUB) about 8 miles from Dublin
• Shannon Airport (SNN) about 3 miles from Shannon
• Belfast International Airport (BFS) about 20 miles from Belfast
• Belfast City (BHD) about 4 miles from Belfast
• Cork Airport (ORK) about 5 miles from Cork
• Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC)
• Kerry Airport (KIR)
• City of Derry Airport (LDY)

It takes around two hours to travel between the vibrant capital cities Dublin and Belfast by train, bus or car/taxi.

Incentive Programmes, Meetings & Events

There’s a wealth of outdoor team-building activities to choose from, ranging from a relaxed pace to higher intensity. One gentle but thrilling option is falconry. The team at Killarney Falconry takes groups out on a leisurely stroll through the picturesque Kerry countryside, allowing them to handle and fly these fabulous birds of prey. Archery is another fun activity that’s suitable for all ages and fitness levels, and you can take classes in the depths of the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland. There are also many water-based activities - canoeing, fishing and windsurfing - along the Causeway Coast, on the River Shannon, the Wild Atlantic Way and Dublin Bay.

There are lots of options available should you prefer to remain indoors. As well as building camaraderie, group mental challenges help develop communication skills, always important in teams! For example, a Beat the Box Team Building event encourages players to work together under pressure towards a shared goal. It’s a mobile event, too, meaning it can travel to a venue near you. 

If you think your delegates would prefer less of a mental challenge, there are lots of enjoyable cultural indoor activities on offer too. Enjoy music classes, food tours or whiskey tastings right across the Island of Ireland.

Venues

Special events call for unique venues. If you're thinking about holding a programme in Ireland and would like a venue that will wow your delegates, you'll be spoilt for choice. Here are examples of some of the world-class venues on the Island of Ireland:

• Convention Centre Dublin, Dublin City
• Adare Manor, County Limerick
• Ashford Castle, County Mayo
• Europe Hotel & Resort, County Kerry
• Galgorm Resort, Northern Ireland
• Hastings Hotels, Northern Ireland
• Jameson Distillery, County Cork
• Guinness Storehouse, Dublin City
• Titanic Belfast, Northern Ireland
• ICC Belfast, Northern Ireland

Ireland’s sector strengths

Located on the edge of Europe, Ireland is the only English-speaking country in the Eurozone, providing an ideal hub for international associations and corporate meetings to take place. Here award-winning researchers, numerous regional corporations and 1,200+ multinationals all come together to produce an international, multilingual melting pot of skills.

Agriculture

The Irish nation has traditionally been known as the Emerald Isle for good reason — it more than lives up to the name thanks to its fertile soil, temperate climate and abundant rainfall. These ideal conditions also explain why agriculture has become one of Ireland’s most important indigenous manufacturing sectors. Today, Irish food and drink thrives on the global stage, with its homegrown industry exporting to 180 countries worldwide. Ireland’s increasing impact in this sector is proven by Food Wise 2025, which anticipates an 85 per cent increase in the value of exports along with a 65 per cent increase in the value of primary production.

Bio-pharma

Across Ireland, the bio-pharma sector is reaching new heights as it discovers, innovates and manufactures new medicines to help improve health outcomes internationally. Ireland’s connections offer great networking potential, giving access to both leading companies and experts within the field. The sector accounts for more than €80 billion in revenue each year. Its growing importance can be seen in the capital investment of almost €10 billion in new facilities, which sees Ireland ride the biggest wave of investment in new biotech facilities of anywhere in the world.

Engineering

Ireland’s passion for engineering is reflected in the numbers, with a broad range of companies from various fields including automotive, aerospace, industrial automation and engineering services. Research and development (R&D) is an important part of the engineering landscape and Ireland is dedicated to cutting-edge innovation and facilitating collaboration between academics and applied research partners, making it a world-class destination for networking, incentive trips and conferences.

Finance

Ireland is home to some of the brightest minds in the world and a centre for innovation and inspiration, thanks in part to the nation’s ‘can do’ attitude. With services covering everything from asset management to aviation finance — combined with a specialist approach to hospitality and sophisticated infrastructure — Ireland is a world-class destination for financial conferences, meetings and events.

ICT

At the heart of Europe’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and software sector, it is one of the top priorities of the Irish economy. Ireland’s ICT industry is rich in expertise, innovation and development — while Dublin has quickly become known as one of the tech start-up capitals of Europe. ICT in Ireland means hosting eight out of the top 10 global information technology companies (including HP, IBM and Apple) as well as creative game companies such as Big Fish, EA and Jolt. The ICT sector in Ireland attracts global talent as well as homegrown researchers, developers and entrepreneurs. High quality technical talent is readily available thanks to the strong partnerships forged between government, industry and third-level institutions.

Medical

Supplying medical technology to 95 of the top 100 countries (by GDP), with exports accounting for €12.6 billion annually, Ireland has been playing a vital role in medical technology for more than 40 years. Ireland also boasts an incredibly strong services, contract research and manufacturing base; in fact, 50 per cent of the companies located here are in the business-to-business space.

Destination Management Companies

When planning your event, the benefits of working with a DMC are huge and should not be underestimated. Extensive local knowledge and close proximity can help mitigate risk, while having feet on the ground in the lead-up to an event is invaluable. Focus on the big picture, leaving your experienced project manager to handle innumerable smaller tasks with one point of contact for all your needs. Their existing supplier relationships and buying power will save you time and money, while their tried and tested formulas mean nothing is left to chance. A DMC can also offer a portfolio of unique and diverse experiences designed to be tailored specifically to your needs, ensuring that your event is one that lives long in the memory of all who attend.

Click here for more information Supports | Meet in Ireland

For further information on hosting an event on the Island of Ireland, click here.

Ireland looks forward to hosting your next event!