BUSINESS WORTH €1.2bn AT RISK FROM COLLAPSE IN CONFERENCE SECTOR

Professional conference organisers fear sector will be forgotten in the stimulus plan

The Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers – AIPCO – has expressed concern that the sector has been forgotten during discussions on the stimulus plan.

Every event being organised by AIPCO members this year has been cancelled, with an increasing number of 2021 events now in doubt.

The international conference sector has a pipeline of events planned for the next decade, which are estimated to be worth €1.2 billion euros to the Irish economy.

The sector currently employs 230 people, but there are fears that many companies may not survive the current crisis, putting future events at risk.

Business Worth €1.2bn At Risk From Collapse in conference sector

Ronan Flood, chairman of AIPCO, said, “While international conferences fall under the banner of tourism in the minds of many, they are equally important in generating business and supporting multiple sectors. For years we have been punching above our weight in terms of the type of events we have hosted. The hard-fought-for pipeline is a risk, simply because the companies that would host those conferences may not be there to help plan and organise them”

Mr. Flood elaborated upon the desire for the Government to consider plans that will protect conference organisers.

“We are asking the Government to consider a more long-term approach, support conference organisers during the immediate crisis, and help to properly showcase Ireland in a post-COVID world.”

AIPCO represents ten companies which organise international conferences in Ireland, and which between them employ 230 event professionals.

AIPCO says its members organise an average of 96 conferences per annum which are attended by over 32 thousand delegates from across the world.

As Ireland has begun its reopening process, 90% of international conferences between now and summer 2021 have already been cancelled.

For more information, or to arrange an interview, contact:

Niamh Hennessy, Healy Communications on behalf of AIPCO

niamh@healycommunications.ie

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