National and international conferences, and conventions, in Belfast are projected to generate more than £90 million in economic impact over the next five years. The company behind ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall, owned by Belfast City Council, has launched a new five-year business plan aimed at doubling the number of large-scale business events hosted in the city by 2030, while also expanding its live entertainment offer.
Launching the plan today (15 September), CEO Rob McConnell, who took up post earlier this year, described the convention centre as a key economic driver: “There is a world of incredible business, industry and scientific events going on at ICC Belfast that many people in Northern Ireland will never be aware of, from sectors as diverse as pioneering cancer pharmacy to space exploration and cyber security, to scaffolding, eco-construction and Irish dancing. These events bring hundreds and thousands of people to the city at a time, making them a vital source of income for our local economy.”
He added that the impact extends well beyond the venue hire itself: “The direct revenue from booking our venue is just the tip of the iceberg. A 1,000-person conference at ICC Belfast brings over £1–1.25 million into the city, supporting hotels, restaurants and bars, taxis, airports and tourist attractions.”
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said conferences delivered an estimated £37 million for Northern Ireland in the past year: “The ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall, and Ulster Hall have made a significant contribution to this. These venues are uniquely positioned to attract international visitors. They make a huge contribution to our tourism sector, especially business tourism, which in turn supports our local businesses.”
The new plan sets out a go-to-market strategy developed with Belfast City Council and the Board, designed to deliver £90.5 million in economic impact from conference and convention business by 2030. McConnell said ICC Belfast competes directly with venues across the UK and Europe and must take a more strategic, commercial approach to win business.
“We’re landing some really impressive events, but I see opportunities for us to do a lot more. Selling the venue is tightly interwoven with selling the destination, and we’re working closely with Visit Belfast, Tourism NI and the Department for the Economy to maximise that opportunity.”
The plan also places emphasis on live entertainment, with a goal of growing the economic impact of shows and performances at Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall to £90m over five years. McConnell said new initiatives will support local suppliers, grassroots musicians, community groups and neurodiverse audiences, while embedding sustainability and social impact into programming.
Tourism NI Chair Ellvena Graham OBE welcomed the announcement, calling the strategy “ambitious, rooted in partnership, and vital to positioning Northern Ireland as a competitive and attractive destination on the global stage.”
Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Paul Doherty, added: “Together with our city partners, the ICC Belfast team have worked hard to secure major events which, in turn, support jobs and innovation in our retail, hospitality and tourism sectors. This is a really exciting plan for the next five years, reflecting our own ambitions to grow our city further and attract more major events and conferences here.”
