Galway Convention Bureau: Supporting you in organising your event

Galway Convention Bureau promotes Galway as a destination for international meetings, conferences, and events and is supported by Fáilte Ireland, Galway City Council and Galway County Council, Shannon Airport, Western Development Commission, and trade memberships.

The convention bureau’s strategic partners include University of Galway, ATU Galway, Galway Chamber of Commerce, and the Galway branch of the Irish Hotel Federation.

Galway Convention Bureau’s membership consists of venues, universities, hotels, retailers, transport, restaurants, pubs, activities, attractions, and airports.

In the year to date, Galway Convention Bureau and Fáilte Ireland have secured circa €7.6 million in business for Galway in MICE (Meetings, Incentive, Conference, Events) led revenue. A business visitor is worth up to three times that of the leisure tourist and meetings tend to take place outside the main summer months, which will lead to an extension of the season for the tourism sector in Galway. This has a very positive effect on the local economy in ensuring that jobs are kept in the west.

Earlier this year in July, the 11th European Solid Mechanics Conference took place at the University of Galway over five days. With over 1,200 delegates in attendance, it was the largest international conference to have ever taken place on the campus. In addition, the economic impact of the conference to the local area was almost €2 million.

“A business visitor is worth up to three times that of the leisure tourist and meetings tend to take place outside the main summer months, which will lead to an extension of the season for the tourism sector in Galway. This has a very positive effect on the local economy in ensuring that jobs are kept in the west.”

The Conference Ambassador

Galway Convention Bureau is looking for people throughout Galway to become champions in bringing international conferences home to the city and county. People who might be thinking of hosting an international conference can work with Galway Convention Bureau and become a conference ambassador.

Who are our conference ambassadors?

Conference ambassadors are influential members of professional and industry associations who can influence their home country in hosting international conferences and meetings. They may have been involved in the organising of these conferences in the past or expressed interest in doing so while attending such events abroad. Ambassadors can become a spokesperson for Galway and choose to be involved as much as they like with the event, or they can leave it to the Galway Convention Bureau team who are here to help from the very beginning and ensure that the conference is a major success.
Benefits of becoming a conference ambassador:

• free support from conferencing expert;
• recognition from your professional colleagues;
• increased profile for Galway/national association;
• enhanced reputation in your area of expertise;
• increased networking opportunities and worldwide links;
• increased revenue to local economy;
• create awareness for local tourism; and
• earn national and international recognition.
• Galway Convention Bureau supports include:
• bid documentation preparation and presentation;
• guidance on financial funding through Fáilte Ireland (please note certain criteria must be met and approved) to assist with the preparation and the travel involved with bidding for an international conference. Meet in Ireland, a brand owned and operated by Fáilte Ireland, our national tourism development authority, offers a suite of financial supports to help attract corporate meetings and incentive trips to Ireland;
• independent advice on all aspects of organising an international conference;
• introduction to professional conference organisers (PCOs) who can manage the bid process for you;
• letters of invitation/endorsement to support the bid document;
• image libraries;
• award winning videos;
• sample presentations; and
• site inspection hosting.

From the initial bid to the event itself, Galway Convention Bureau and Fáilte Ireland will work hard to support our Conference Ambassadors to deliver successful conferences and provide unique experiences for your delegates.

T: 091 33 99 20
E: info@galwayconventionbureau.com