Industry Development Programme

NITB Tourism Conference 2013 - 5th March 2013

Travellers around the world are telling us that they want a life less ordinary. Visitors are no longer chatting about destinations or products, they are seeking out authentic and uniquely memorable "experiences".
Those experiences which offer the highest levels of differentiation will also offer the highest level of return for the tourism providers who provide it.  This year’s conference was an opportunity to learn about your key markets and visitor, who is coming to Northern Ireland? What are they like, what do they want, what motivates them to travel?

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Howard Hastings - NITB Chairman
Alan Clarke - NITB Chief Executive
Paul Nursey - CTC
Nancy Arsenault - Tourism Cafe Canada
Geoff Burch
Nancy Arsenault and Paul Nursey - Interview
Young and Lively
Family Fun
Time Together
Mature Cosmopolitan

WorldHost - 12th February 2013

Only one year after the launch of WorldHost in Northern Ireland, almost 5000 people have already been trained in the customer service programmes and more than 100 businesses have received their WorldHost Recognition Award. Due to the huge success of WorldHost, Attendees heard about the introduction of new programmes and extended funding opportunities.

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David Meade
Sally Montgomery - NITB Board Member
Arlene Foster - Tourism Minister
Stephen Farry - Minister for Employment & Learning
Sharon Glancy - People 1st
Greg Nugent - Director of Brand, Marketing and Culture for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics
Carolyn Boyd - NITB Industry Development Manager
Angela Hughes - Strategy & Regeneration Manager at Ilex URC
David Meade
Carolyn Boyd - NITB (Closing Summary)
WorldHost Promotional Video

Information Technology - 31st January 2013

The growth and integration of tourism and digital technology has been exponential over the past five years. Visitors to Northern Ireland are using new ways to source information and book their holidays, but what does this mean for our 'warm welcome' and ability to promote our tourism offering in a personal way?

This masterclass explained how technology is being used globally to attract and retain visitors and how local tourism businesses can use these insights to promote their offering and to generate business.

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Ross Fothergill - Director of Business Development, NITB

Grow Your Food Tourism Product- 24th January 2013

Food is an essential part of the visitor experience. Northern Ireland's food, like our golf, is coming to the fore. The UK Guild of Fine Foods has awarded produce from Northern Ireland with the title of 'UK Supreme Champion' two years running. Three local foods have gained 'Protected Geographical Indication' status from the European Union meaning they are held in similar regard as 'Parma Ham' and 'Champagne'.

The strength of our produce means we have opportunities to differentiate ourselves as a destination through our food offer, tell our stories and even motivate travel. This Masterclass explored Northern Ireland's potential to develop an all round excellent core food offer, looked at the ways in which we can develop our food tourism offer and also provided an opportunity to meet some of NI's 'Great Taste Award' winners and to sample their produce.

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Michele Shirlow - Food NI

Matthew O'Callaghan - Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association

John McKenna - The Irish Food Guide

WorldHost Industry Insight - Give Your Business A Chance in 2013 - 4th December 2012

WorldHost Customer Service Programmes were launched in January 2012 and have now been delivered to over 4,000 people in the tourism, hospitality, leisure and passenger transport sectors across Northern Ireland. Due to the demand from industry, funding from the Department for Employment and Learning is being offered until March 2013.

At this insight delegates heard how local businesses are currently using WorldHost and why they recommend it, how they can avail of the DEL funding package, how they can become a WorldHost Recognised Business and be part of a WorldHost destination.

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WorldHost Customer Service Programme

The Future of Events Masterclass - 27th November 2012

This Masterclass presented delegates with the opportunity to gain an insight into some of the most influential figures in the events industry and enabled them to create, improve or expand their own event and product.

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Claire O'Reilly - Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon

Derek Allan - The Enchanted Forest

William Higham - Next Big Thing

Hospitality Exchange - 17th October 2012

At the launch of ni2012 Our Time, Our Place campaign this time last year our tourism Minister Arlene Foster said we can send out a message to the world that Northern Ireland has changed.

As the campaign has unfolded, this past year has seen a sustained level of marketing and promotion of Northern Ireland that has moved us to a whole new level in terms of global perceptions, our profile as a destination,

The question now is – how do we build on the launch pad of the last twelve months to create a legacy for the next ten years.

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Alan Clarke - ni2012 Launch Pad to Legacy

World Police and Fire Games Information Event - 23rd August 2012

Northern Ireland will host the prestigious World Police and Fire Games from 1st to 10th August next year. The event has the potential to generate up to an estimated £21m for the  local economy. NITB is encouraging tourism providers across the region to maximise the potential of the 25,000 visitors who are due to attend the Games next year. This Games Information Event was held at the MAC, Belfast and was attended by representatives from all 26 Local Authorities from across Northern Ireland.

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Mike Graham - World Police and Fire Games

Andrew Patterson - NITB

UUJ International Conference on Tourism - 21st June 2012

NITB in association with The Ulster Business School presented an industry workshop in conjunction with their three day international conference, exploring elements of event practice with a view to leveraging events and maximising business potential.

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Shan McAnena - Belfast Festival at Queens

Michael Jeffrey - In Any Event

Alistair McGowan - World Police & Fire Games

Andrew Potter - City of Culture 2013 

NITB Tourism Conference - 22nd March 2012

NITB recognises the critical importance of delivering an excellent visitor experience that is unique and appealing enough to tempt visitors away from other destinations. This is an on-going challenge for all of us involved in tourism.  This year’s tourism conference invited delegates to walk in the footsteps of the visitor and to get an insight into the visitor touch-points from arrival to departure.            

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Roger Brooks - Destination Development International

Andrew Potter- Culture Company 2013

Alistair McGowan - World Police and Fire Games  

Tour Guiding Business Insight - 6th March 2012 

NITB recognises the critical importance of the tour guiding industry in Northern Ireland and is committed to supporting its development in the future. This insight presented areas of best practice within the tour guiding industry enabling delegates to gather learnings from the 2012 Olympic preparations and to benchmark changes in the sector in Wales.

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Selwyn Walters – Wales Official Tourist Guides Association

David Thompson - Guild of Registered Tourist Guides

Aidan McCormick – Belfast Sight Seeing Tours

Gyles Haverty- People 1st

Grow Your Tourism Business Online - 23rd February 2012

This event highlighted the importance of the internet as an integral part of everyday life for consumers across Northern Ireland and the world. The focus of the day was to explore tourism and technology, in order to help tourism businesses in Northern Ireland learn more about online technology and maximise their marketing targets.

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Adrienne Hanna - Alternative View

Niall Parfitt - Logon.ni

Geoff Wilson - IFA

Naomh McElhatton - Digital Advertising NI

Nick Martin- Invest NI  

NI2012 Destination Update for Causeway Coast and Glens - 9th February 2012

This event highlighted the importance of 2012  to the local tourism industry in the Causeway Coast and Glens region and highlighted the opportunities for business growth which the next few years will bring. 

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Eimear Callaghan - NITB

Graham Thompson - National Trust

Richard Lafferty - Aquaholics &
Ricky Martin - Alive Surf School

Jason Powell - Myths and Legends

Adrian Morrow - Glenarm Castle 

WorldHost Programme Launch - 26th January 2012

This event was the launch of WorldHost Customer Service training programmes in Northern Ireland.  The focus of the day was to explore best practice in customer service training both locally and globally, and to launch the new WorldHost suite of customer service programmes.

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Raymond Chan - Raymond Chan and Associates

Judith Owens - Titanic Belfast

Jennifer McKeever - Airporter

Michael McQuillan- The Streat

Questions and Answer session

 NI 2012 Fermanagh Roadshow - 29th November 2011

NITB’s Tourism Conference in March 2011 set the scene for industry and focused on an urgent call to action in the immediate future. NITB and our partners communicated strongly that 2012/13 presents Northern Ireland with unique opportunities, delivering a celebration of Northern Ireland that will inspire people at home and abroad to make this a must-see destination.

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Tanya Cathcart – Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism

Gordon Clarke- URS Scott Wilson

Siobhan McGuigan- NITB

Jim Chestnutt- Castlecoole National Trust

Samuel Beckett- Happy Days Enniskillen International