Belfast Waterfront has commenced work on its £29.5m expansion which will enable the venue to compete more effectively for larger conferences.
Site enabling works, which are necessary to facilitate the extension development to Northern Ireland’s only purpose built conference centre, are well underway.
The much anticipated expansion due to open in mid 2016 will seamlessly integrate with the existing building and see its conferencing facilities double in size.
Situated in the heart of Belfast City, the expansion will not only provide an additional 4,000m2 of flexible space to facilitate more diverse requirements but enhance the city’s attractiveness as a business tourism destination. As Belfast Waterfront prepares to undergo a radical transformation, so too has its city. Over a billion pounds has been spent over the past decade to transform the city into a vibrant and inspirational meeting place. The city was recently named the UK’s Best Conference and Incentive City Destination by C&IT magazine.
Continuous investment in the city together with the Waterfront’s award winning reputation has seen an influx of some of the biggest names in politics, show business and sports. Indeed Belfast Waterfront has just said arrivederci to the Giro d’Italia Big Start after acting as its accreditation and media centre. Such an event showcased the very best of Northern Ireland to a staggering 775 million viewers from 164 countries. Having world-class tourist attractions, a stunning conference centre, breathtaking scenery and a city alive with excitement promoted on a global platform will pave the way for many more spectacular events.
Jennifer Patterson, Revenue and Business Generation Manager at Belfast Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre comments “We’re looking forward to seeing our architectural plans become a reality as construction on the new extension gets underway this Summer. Doubling the size of our facility is a further sign of our commitment to strengthening the city’s capabilities to attract many more major conferences and events as well as bring £39m to the local economy annually.”
Visitors to Stand F420 at IMEX Frankfurt will see at first hand the choice of new spaces available in 2016 and how they will facilitate future events with diverse needs.
