Earlier this year I took a few days out to refresh my knowledge on what Dublin and the surrounds has to offer the meetings and incentive market. And I’m glad I did.
Because the simple answer is… a lot.
We know that for UK outbound incentive travel groups, the norm is to seek sun – along with other experiences of course - but nonetheless Ireland can feel a little less ‘sunny’ (other than in disposition perhaps) and maybe a little close to home.
However, the truth is it has so much to offer – both the incentive travel and the corporate meetings market.
Hotel and event venues have come on leaps and bounds in the last 5 or so years – style, substance, service and even sustainability. Dublin is well-known and regarded now as a hot-bed of the tech industry, attracting major global players to settle operations within the city. This has contributed undoubtedly to the investment and development in and around Dublin with brand new buildings appearing and old ones appearing…well, brand new.
So the following are a few highlights I thought worth sharing:
Croke Park is the Home of the Gaelic Games and only a 15 minute walk from the city centre. With a capacity of 82,000 it’s the third largest stadium in Europe and has over 100 meeting and event spaces, so an option for events from intimate private dinners to large conventions. Highlight for those non-vertigo sufferers is the Skyline – a walkway above the stadium, 17 storeys high with panoramic views of the city; popular for both sports and selfie-fans.
I’m not sure anyone has been to Dublin without visiting the Guinness Storehouse. So, ok – not the most original of experiences or venues to include, but it is a pretty much a must visit. The Home of Guinness has multiple options for conferences, product launches, meetings, networking and parties. As well as the Guinness Storehouse Experience itself. So many spaces, all with their own personality, capable of accommodating 10-2,000 people. And of course, it’s home to the Gravity Bar – well worth a visit for a pint or a private event on the 7th floor with uninterrupted views spanning as far as the Dublin Mountains. Plus it’s being extended and remodelled this year.
Sticking with the alcohol theme – it was Ireland after all – next stop was the Teeling Whiskey Distillery. The first new distillery in Dublin for over 125 years, opened in 2015, is located in the heart of the City Centre and a new kid on the block when it comes to meetings and corporate events.
It's a unique and versatile venue – where guests can experience at first hand the sound, smell and feel of a fully operational urban distillery. It also does a fantastic job of blending the old and new, with contemporary event spaces throughout.
Clearly before any Guinness of Distillery visits, an excellent way to see the City is on bike. We took a guided tour on e-bikes – electric-assisted push bikes which help the rider tackle any incline with ease. For corporate groups, this is the way forward when it comes to cycling. But it’s the hosts that make the experience with their humour, enthusiasm and story-telling, bringing the history and quirks of the City to life.
The final must-mention is celebrity chef and award-winning food writer Catherine Fulvio’s Ballyknocken Cookery School.
The venue is a Victorian style farmhouse in Co Wicklow – about 30 minutes from Dublin. So not only is it a state of the art award-winning cookery school set in an idyllic rural location with you may even be hosted by the enterprising, energetic and Emmy-nominated Catherine. She even helped this hapless cook from Rockitfish make top drawer cheese scones.
As part of the visit, I also got to experience a number of leading hotels for meetings, corporate events and incentive travel groups. Here’s a quick round-up – and all come highly recommended, for the right group and event:
Westin Hotel (5*) – central Dublin, overlooking Trinity College; the gleaming marble pillars, beautiful ornate ceilings and bespoke Waterford crystal chandeliers also make the Banking Hall at the Westin a destination venue
Iveagh Gardens Hotel (4*) – sustainable, eco-friendly hotel in the heart of the city centre
Alex Hotel (4*) – Dublin’s newest and most stylish hotel
Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa (5*) – luxury hotel located in County Wicklow; a stunning country location only 30 minutes from the city centre
The K Club Hotel & Resort (5*) – offering the ultimate country escape and a Ryder Cup golf course; 30 minutes from Dublin city centre in County Kildare
Cliff at Lyons (4*) – County Kildare, privately owned luxury destination occupying an unusual collection of historic rose-clad buildings, including a mill and former dovecot, in rural Kildare a 30-minute drive from Dublin
Citywest Hotel & Convention Centre (4*) – an international conference destination for up to 2,000 delegates, with over 750 high quality bedrooms
