Twenty-nine tourism enterprises from Ireland joined Tourism Ireland in Germany for IMEX, the major business tourism exhibition which takes place each year in Frankfurt. IMEX – International Meetings and Events Exhibition – is a key event in the calendar for the MICE (meetings, incentive, conferences and events) industry.
Attracting about 9,000 visitors, including almost 4,000 influential business tourism buyers from 75 different countries, the three-day trade show offers excellent business and networking opportunities for the participating Irish tourism companies.
Zoë Redmond, Tourism Ireland’s manager for Central Europe, said: “Business tourism is an important, high yield sector and Tourism Ireland has a busy programme of promotions under way throughout 2014, to grow this type of tourism.
"Our presence at IMEX provides Tourism Ireland, and our partners, with a wonderful opportunity to highlight our world-class business and conference facilities, as well as the great experiences delegates can enjoy in Ireland on the sidelines of their conference or meeting. The superb facilities, coupled with our distinctive cultural experience, mean the island of Ireland is a very attractive destination for the business tourism market.” Business tourism is the most lucrative form of tourism; visitors who travel here for business purposes spend about 2.5 times more than the average tourist.
Tourism Ireland’s busy programme of activity to grow business tourism this year includes a number of networking events, a presence at other major business tourism promotions and familiarisation visits for key decision-makers in the sector – highlighting ease of access, as well as the great facilities and good value rates available for meetings and conferences here.
