Programme
Thursday 6th February 2025
12:15
Registration Opens
12:15 - 13:15
Connect with the PCos and dmcs
13:15 - 13:25
Conference Opening
13:25 - 13:30
Welcome Address
Conor Meany, Chair of AIPCO
13:30 - 13:40
Ireland's business Events strategy
Maria Melia, Head of Tourism Marketing Division in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
13:40 - 14:00
Meet in Ireland Update
Paul Mockler, Head of Commercial Development, Fáilte Ireland
David Boyce, Head of Business Events, Tourism Ireland
14:00 - 15:00
A Global Perspective: Vision 2030 – The future landscape of Business Events
Mathias Posch, President of ICS and Past President of IAPCO
Betina Reventlow-Mourier, Deputy Convention
Director – Copenhagen Convention Bureau
Panel Q&A – What will the business events industry look like in 2030?
15:00 - 15:30
Leading Together: Irish Industry Perspectives on the Strength of Partnership
Discussion with industry partners: Carlo Boersma – MHL Hotel Collection, Stephen Meehan – Convention Centre Dublin, Jenny Walsh – ICC Belfast and Lisa Harrison – Dalata Group
15:30 - 16:00
Tea / Coffee Break
16:00 - 17:30
Workshop (2 Tracks)
Incentive Travel & Ireland: What’s Alive for ’25?
17.30 - 17.55
First Time Attendees Reception
17:55
Group Photo
in The Galmont Hotel
18:00 - 19:45
WELCOME DRINKS RECEPTION IN ST. NICHOLAS’ CATHEDRAL
20:00 - 23:00
Conference Dinner (hosted by FÁilte Ireland) & Hall of Fame plus AIPCO Next Generation Award
Conference participants can enjoy a wonderful evening of dinner and entertainment in The Galmont Hotel. The dinner will be addressed by Niall Tracey, Director of Fáilte Ireland
Friday 7th February 2024
7:00 - 8:15
Morning Fun Run
9:00
CONFERENCE OPENING & VIDEO
MC: Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua
9:10 - 9:20
Ministerial Address
09:20 - 10:15
MASTERING THE ART OF STORYTELLING
The radical act of in person connection – Reignite innovation and imagination in live spaces.
Unplug – show up & dwell in possibility.
Keynote speaker – Noeline Kavanagh
10:15 - 10:40
Storytelling Groupwork
10:40 - 10:45
AIPCO Partner Introduction - Taxback International
10:45 - 11:15
Tea / Coffee Break
11:15 - 11:45
Panel Discussion: Irish Collaboration - Case Studies of Success
A panel discussion, looking at what has worked well in Ireland in the recent past – Fáilte Ireland Pillars
Panellists: Liam Glynn (WONCA), John McCarthy (TRA), Kathy Reilly (World Geography Congress), Kev Shannon (Odyssey International)
11:45 - 12:00
YOGA MARA
12:00 - 12:45
Building a Culture of Inclusion and Belonging in the Business Events Sector
Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities. Marie Devitt
12:45 - 13:00
Closing Remarks & Announcement of 2026 Business Tourism Conference
Conor Meany, Chair of AIPCO
13:00 - 14:30
Lunch
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