Business

Titanic Belfast still pushing the boundaries for business events

Laura Cowan, Titanic Belfast’s head of business and leisure sales
Laura Cowan, Titanic Belfast’s head of business and leisure sales Laura Cowan, Titanic Belfast’s head of business and leisure sales

TITANIC Belfast, which recently celebrated its sixth birthday, has enjoyed its busiest year to date and is continuing to lead the way in attracting visitors from around the globe.

The facility has been transformative for tourism in Northern Ireland, according to Laura Cowan, Titanic Belfast’s head of business and leisure sales.

“Our recent phenomenal performance is proof that the attraction will continue to lead the way in attracting visitors to Belfast,” she said.

“Titanic Belfast has not only driven leisure tourism but has been fundamental in re-invigorating the city’s event industry and has been a key driver for business tourism.”

Laura has been with the company since prior to its opening in 2012 and has overseen its growth as one of the city’s signature venues for events - including the Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards - on a local, national and international stage.

“The event offering at Titanic Belfast was always an integral part of the signature project, from initial idea, conception through to delivery,” she said.

"Our events have gone from strength to strength over the past six years and we have hosted over 2,000 business and leisure events.

"We are very proud of everything we have hosted at Titanic Belfast, such as the G8 Summit Reception, BBC Sports Personality of the Year and Giro d’Italia Big Start, as well as conferences across an array of sectors, including Routes Europe 2017, European Federation of Animal Science and the World Conference of Credit Unions.”

Everyone at the centre works hard, she said, to “push the boundaries” for clients and last month this was proven yet again with the opening of exciting new event space, Hickson’s Point.

“We work hard to continue to push the boundaries in service and innovation for our clients every day,” Laura added.

“Last month, we saw the addition of a new event space to the Titanic Belfast portfolio - Hickson’s Point - a new shipyard-themed hospitality space to enhance our offering and which is suitable for everything from breakfasts events and drinks receptions to themed dining and BBQs."

Indeed the first official event staged at Hickson's Point was the formal launch of the Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards.

And this is not the only change that has been made since the building opened to critical acclaim from all quarters.

Two other new venues have recently joined Titanic Belfast - the SS Nomadic, the last remaining White Star Line vessel (available for exclusive hire for a range of private and corporate events), and The Titanic Exhibition Centre.

“It’s not only our venues we develop, but our staff too,” Laura stressed.

“They have been fundamental to our success and, as a leading hospitality employer, Titanic Belfast has done much to address the skills gap and answer the demand for quality hospitality staff which has been outstripping supply.

“At Titanic Belfast, Belfast’s renaissance is very much a reality and we are constantly working with our team and have introduced in-house five-star training, ongoing coaching and mentoring and flexible working.

“With increasing visitor numbers, interest in local produce and more catering and hospitality outlets, hospitality needs to be seen as a career choice to sustain and grow our business tourism industry in the years ahead - especially as the outlook is so strong.”

:: The Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards take place in Titanic Belfast on Thursday June 14. The short-listed companies will be revealed in the Irish News on Thursday May 17.

:: More details at www.wea.irishnews.com and follow us on Twitter @IrishNewsWEA