International travel forum bound for Belfast
Belfast is set to host a major international travel forum next June.
Held last year in New Orleans, the Hosts Global Forum will bring more than 100 of the world’s leading destination management companies and 100 global meeting and incentives buyers and planners to Belfast. This will be the first time the Hosts Global Forum has been held in Europe.
Tourism NI promoted the Hosts Global Forum at the global IMEX US conference which took place in Las Vegas in early November.
John McGrillen, Tourism NI chief executive, says the booking is “a fantastic win” for tourism in Northern Ireland:
“Over 200 attendees with significant collective buying power will visit Belfast for the forum and experience first-hand, through a tailored familiarisation programme, why Northern Ireland is a destination with global appeal for incentive business,” he added.
“Buyers in attendance account for approximately $2 bn in business revenue all over the world. All major incentive-based businesses will be present during the Belfast forum and the associated benefits of Hosts Global will be felt across the economy for years to come.”
Marty MacKay, president of Global Alliance says that Hosts Global is very excited to know that NI will be hosting its clients and members next year:
“The momentum around the Forum is already growing and we look forward to working closely with all our partners in Belfast to put together a conference full of excellent education and that showcases a destination we know everyone will fall in love with,” he said recently.
The three-day event taking place from June 21 until 24 will be delivered using a public and private sector delivery approach involving Hosts Global, Tourism NI, Hastings Hotels, Moloney & Kelly, Belfast City Council, Visit Belfast, Belfast Waterfront, Titanic Belfast and The Merchant Hotel.
Our picture shows concierge Jonathon Wade with John McGrillen, Tourism NI chief executive; John Healy of Moloney Kelly, Catriona Lavery of Hastings Hotels and Michael Dalton of Hosts Global as they announce that Belfast has secured major international tourism forum, Hosts Global in 2018.
