Event: UNESCO 3rd International Conference on Learning Cities 2017

Location: Cork City Hall

Date: 18th – 20th September 2017

Delegates: 700

Conference Value: €1,120,000

In 2017 Cork was chosen by UNESCO as the location to host its International Conference on Learning Cities – the first time this prestigious conference has been held in Europe. Securing this conference for Cork will further enhance Ireland’s reputation internationally in the field of education and also strengthens Cork’s reputation as a Learning City.

Cork’s reputation as a city of lifelong learning is given international recognition in hosting this global event. Securing the conference was a competitive process, and key determining factors in Cork’s winning bid were its long standing record in developing education within the wider community and the success of its annual Lifelong Learning Festival.

This conference brought approximately 700 delegates from over 95 countries to Cork (including Ministers, mayors, representatives of national governments and cities and other key international decision-makers and influencers) to share knowledge and experiences in building inclusive and sustainable learning cities. The reputational benefits to Ireland of hosting the UNESCO conference will not only support efforts to recruit international students, but can also help attract and retain the skilled workers needed to support continued economic growth.

Event: NeuroGASTRO 2017

Location:University College Cork

Date: 24th – 26th August 2017

Delegates: 470

Conference Value: €752,000

In 2017 APC Microbiome Ireland hosted a festival of neurogastroenterology in University College Cork, culminating with NeuroGASTRO 2017 (August 24-26th), the flagship conference of the Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society. This saw an influx of over 470 delegates from all across Europe and indeed worldwide to Cork City and provided an important forum for the discussion of cutting-edge research in the company of leading investigators in the field of neurogastroenterology.

The NeuroGASTRO 2017 meeting, is a well-established European event that brings together leading experts in this field, this was secured by the local organisers and investigators in the APC Microbiome Ireland, Dr Niall Hyland and Dr Gerard Clarke, who brought the conference to Ireland for the first time. The meeting included a sparkling programme of the latest research in neurogastroenterology and motility discussed in over 60 oral and 200 poster presentations across the 3 days of the meeting.

 

On holding the event in Cork, Conference Ambassador Dr. Hyland said:

“We appreciate the great support at all stages along the way in securing this prestigious conference, from the bid stage to delivery and that includes the Irish Society of Gastroenterology, UCC Conferencing, Cork Convention Bureau, Failte Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland who have generously sponsored the meeting.

The support from the Cork Convention Bureau was crucial in ensuring the success of NeuroGASTRO 2017 at every stage of the process, from bid stage to successfully hosting the event in Cork. The global recognition of APC Microbiome Ireland at UCC and Cork as a global hub for microbiome research was fundamental in attracting NeuroGASTRO to the city, coupled with the culture and accessibility of Cork.”

 

On the legacy of the conference, Dr. Clarke added:

“When we meet NeuroGASTRO 2017 delegates on our own travels, it is clear that what made the conference most memorable was the unique experiences and hospitality that only Cork offers, and the warmth of the welcome they received.”

 

Highlights of the NeuroGASTRO meeting itself included plenary lectures from prominent local research stars such as Prof John F Cryan as well as leading international experts Prof Jan Tack (Rome Foundation and University Hospital KU Leuven) and Dr Kirsteen Browning (Penn State University). This is in addition to a satellite event organised by Dr Siobhain O’Mahony, the NeuroGASTRO TANDEM meeting, which was designed to foster the European collaboration of basic and clinical scientists and practitioners in neurogastroenterology from Europe.

More information can be found through this link: https://apc.ucc.ie/apc-hosts-festival-neurogastroenterology/

And for videos from the conference click here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3quGfTH4UXzdMVAA1gV009M9T2SESJ_9 

 

 

 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual Visit Cork Industry Day 2020 on 12th February, at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Little Island. As we shared our achievements from 2019 and our plans for 2020 in both Leisure Tourism (Pure Cork) and Business Tourism (Cork Convention Bureau), along with our partners in Fáilte Ireland who showcased their new ‘Keep Discovering’ campaign, which will be a roadmap to delivering growth in the domestic short break market to 2023.

Other talks on the day included Eoin Kennedy (Update Digital) on how to take advantage of social media for both MICE and leisure tourism, Sam Johnston (Manager Regional Convention Bureaux of Ireland) on Fáilte Ireland Business Tourism Plans and Arthur McGauran speaking about the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence.

Some of the achievements from Visit Cork we shared on the day include:

Take a look through our photos from #CorkTourismDay20

From left: Jeremy Murray, Evelyn O’Sullivan, Seamus Heaney and Anne Cahill (Visit Cork) at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

From left: Jeremy Murray, Evelyn O’Sullivan, Seamus Heaney and Anne Cahill (Visit Cork) at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

From left: Ray Kelleher, Trigon Hotels; Jamie Cuthbert; Sharon Conroy, Cork Co. Council; Seamus Heaney, Head of Visit Cork; Finola Twomey, Fota Collection and Fergal Harte, Gen. Mnrg at the Kingsley Hotel at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Seamus Heaney (right), Head of Visit Cork with Philip Gillivan, president Cork Business Association at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

From left: Jeremy Murray, Anne Cahill, Seamus Heaney (Head of Visit Cork) and Evelyn O’Sullivan (Manager of Cork Convention Bureau) at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Evelyn O’Sullivan (Manager of Cork Convention Bureau) left with Josephine O’Driscoll, (Manager of Wild Atlantic Way, Fáilte Ireland) at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Ashlinn Keane (left), Mardyke Entertainment Complex; Gerard O’Mahony, Chairman of Visit Cork and Tara Lyng, Dwyers, Washington Street at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Gerard O’Mahoney, Chairman of Visit Cork (left) with Seamus Heaney, Head of Visit Cork at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Margaret O’Regan (left) and Elena Canty, both of Event Plan at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Roisín FitzGerald (left) Fota Wildlife Park with Elga Ryan, SECAD at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Rose Green (left) and Gemma Flanagan, both Fáilte Ireland at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Ursula Ramsell (left), Tourism Department, Cork City Council with Elena Canty, Event Plan at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

From left: Joleen Cronin (photographer), Raymond Kelleher, Trigon Hotels, Sandra Murphy, Trigon Hotels and Zuzana Brosnan, Montenotte Hotel at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau). Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

From left: Finola Twomey, Fota Collection; Phillippa Deane, Clonakilty Blackpudding and Michelle Donovan, Fáilte Ireland at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Roisín Flynn (left), Imperial Hotel with Sonia Cribbin, Fota Ireland Resort at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Hal McElroy of The Trident Hotel with Marie Healy, Fáilte Ireland at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Stephen Hackett, Irish Rail and Fionoa Connolly, Bus Eireann at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Eoin Kennedy (left), UpDate Digital with Jeremy Murray of the Cork Convention Bureau at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

From left: Hal McElroy, Trident Hotel, Kinsale; Dafydd Lewis and Colin Barrett, Carrigaline Court Hotel and Neil Grant, Irish Hotels Federation at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Gerard O’Mahony Chairman of Visit Cork speaking at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Gerard O’Mahony Chairman of Visit Cork speaking at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed

 

Gerard O’Mahony Chairman of Visit Cork speaking at the Visit Cork Industry Day at the Radisson Hotel and Spa, Little Island. Over 200 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Cork attended the event which gave an overview of Visit Cork’s achievements to date and announced future plans for the promotion of Cork for leisure tourism (Pure Cork) and business tourism (Cork Convention Bureau).  Pic: Brian Lougheed