58 | TRADE NEWS


ICC Belfast Recognised as State- of-The-Art International Conference Venue


ICC Belfast has been awarded ‘gold’ in the Convention Centre category at this year’s Eventex Awards. The awards are the world’s leading honours for events and experience marketing. This year received 1207 entries from 62 countries and six continents. ICC Belfast was the only convention centre from across the UK and Ireland to be awarded gold, earning an impressive score of 90,317. Qatar’s National


Convention 80,237 and earned silver.


Judges evaluated venues on criteria including concept, creativity and innovation. They acknowledged ICC Belfast’s position as a catalyst for economic development in Northern Ireland. They also noted the venue’s recent accomplishments, including hosting the One Young World Summit and receiving acclaimed industry accolades such as the Green Meetings Gold Award. Delegate numbers, the venue’s accessibility


and


sustainability commitments, and its high employee engagement, were also taken into


Centre scored consideration. The gold award comes following the


venue’s £29.5 million extension, unveiled in 2016, which firmly positioned Belfast as a destination for conferencing. The venue has enabled the region to target £209 million in direct economic impact by 2030. Julia Corkey, Chief Executive of ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster


most awards – 65 trophies. Qatar and Poland rounded out the top 3 receiving 56 and 45 respectively.


Ovanes Ovanessian, co-founder of Eventex


Awards, said, “This edition of the Eventex Awards has seen a record-breaking number of entries,


as well as record-breaking Hall,


said, “This award recognises ICC Belfast as a state-of-the-art international conference venue. With the support of our partners, we create a world-class stage where great things happen. I’m incredibly proud of our fantastic team for driving forward our commitments to diversity and inclusion, and sustainability. This enables us to compete globally for Business Events and attract global organisations to Belfast that deliver socially, culturally, and economically for the region.”


Notable organisations at the Eventex


Awards 2024 included Lufthansa, L’Oreal, AUDI and Netflix. The United States won the


Stena Line Reinforces its Irish Sea


Management to Drive Growth in the Region


SWEDISH ferry operator Stena Line has announced changes to its management team aimed at further enhancing its position as a market leader and driving continued growth in the region. Over recent years, Stena Line’s Irish


Sea operation has experienced significant expansion solidifying its status as a cornerstone of the company’s network. With 13 ships operating across 7 routes and providing a market leading 240 sailings each week, the Irish Sea has become an increasingly vital component of Stena Line’s business.


–


The recent launch of the Dublin Liverpool


freight of route further


underscored the company’s commitment to providing efficient and reliable transport solutions across the Irish Sea. As part


its ongoing development,


Stena Line will be reinforcing regional management to effectively address the new opportunities and demands that lie ahead.


Since 2020, Paul Grant and his dedicated regional management team have demonstrated remarkable resilience and leadership, successfully navigating through both Brexit and the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under their guidance, Stena Line has achieved significant growth, with car volumes increasing by almost 20% and freight volumes by 4%, setting new records for business levels in the region. Effective June 1, 2024, Stena Line will revert to a two-region structure to reflect its growing business needs. Paul Grant, who has played a pivotal role in the success of the Irish Sea operations, will assume responsibility for the newly established Irish Sea North region, overseeing operations from Belfast. In addition, Paul will join the main board of


creativity and innovation – the industry is truly back with a bang. We have undoubtedly been wowed by outstanding events and experiences,


ground-breaking technology


and suppliers, as well as breathtaking venues. We have also seen remarkable inspiration from every corner of the globe, with new countries joining the Eventex Awards family each year, enriching the competition with their unique contribution – this diversity is one of the things that makes Eventex Awards truly exceptional. So, on behalf of the entire Eventex team, as well as personally, I would like to congratulate all winners.” For more information visit iccbelfast.com


www.nitravelnews.com


June 2024


CLIA Concludes Largest-Ever Annual Conference


CRUISE Lines International Association (CLIA) concluded its largest-ever annual UK and Ireland conference. The three-day event, which was themed #DiscoverMore in recognition of the extensive range of selling opportunities cruise destinations offer, was attended by 850 delegates in Southampton.


The conference included ship visits, conference sessions, an industry trade fair and Sailaway Party. For the first time, agents could visit two ships over consecutive days, from a selection of seven in total. Harry Judd of McFly put in a celebrity appearance during the conference sessions, while guests on stage included Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of CLIA; Rob Scott, vice president sales, marketing and brand at P&O Cruises; Paul Ludlow, president of Carnival UK and P&O Cruises; Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages; Laura


Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises; Dondra Ritzenthaler, CEO of Azamara Cruises; and Jeff Corwin, US wildlife biologist, TV personality and Princess Cruises onboard host.


An optional in-person ‘New to Selling Cruise Day’


available prior to the main events. training session was also


Stena Line (UK) Ltd. and serve as Stena Line’s representative on the UK Chamber of Shipping Ferry & Cruise. “The Irish Sea has long been a key market for Stena Line, and I am pleased to continue leading our efforts and growth in our Belfast hub,” says Paul Grant,


incoming Trade Director for


Irish Sea North. “I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and confident that, with our reinforced management team, we will strengthen Stena Line’s position as the foremost ferry operator on the Irish Sea.”


Johan Edelman will take up the role of Trade Director for the Irish Sea South region,


overseeing operations from


Dublin and Rosslare. With a focus on development and growth, Johan will work to further enhance Stena Line’s presence in the region, building upon the strong foundation laid by his predecessors. Johan is currently the Trade Director for Baltic Sea North, covering the routes between Nynäshamn and Ventspils as well as between Liepāja and Travemünde. Johan


Edelman, incoming Trade


Director for Irish Sea South, said: “I am thrilled to join the team on the Irish Sea and look forward to driving growth and innovation in the Irish Sea South region. Together with Paul and the entire Stena Line team, I am committed to delivering exceptional service and value to our customers while further expanding our market presence.”


The Irish Sea North and Irish Sea


South regions are closely connected, and both Paul and Johan will be dedicated to ensuring seamless collaboration and a unified brand experience across the entire Irish Sea network.


As a result of these strategic changes, Stena Line will be well positioned to embark on a new chapter of growth and success in the Irish Sea, reaffirming its position as the preferred choice for passengers and freight operators alike.


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