Almost 2,000 teachers were in
Belfast this week for their first in-person conference in three years.
The 55th annual conference
of the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language
is taking place at ICC Belfast, the city’s only purpose-built conference
centre.
The conference, which is one of the
largest international events in the English language teaching calendar, will
also deliver £2.3 million in economic impact for the city.
Jon Burton, CEO at IATEFL, said:
“It’s fantastic to host our 55th international conference in
Belfast. As one of the main events in the English Language Teaching calendar
our event is attended by thousands of professionals from more than 100
countries, and the five-day programme boasts an array of talks, workshops, and
forums as well as a vibrant social programme.
“ICC Belfast is perfectly placed to
accommodate our programme needs, whilst the city lends a vibrant backdrop for
trainers, theorists, practising teachers and more professionals from right
across the industry to come together and exchange ideas and experiences.”
Julia Corkey, CEO at ICC Belfast, said: “Business events have the
potential to become a reliable economic driver as Tourism NI’s Integrated
Strategy for Business Events which launched earlier this year showcases. Now
that the conferencing and events industry is back to full capacity, ICC Belfast,
has quickly re-emerged as an attractive and viable venue for the sector.”
The IATFL conference was supported
by the Belfast and Northern Ireland Conference Support Scheme. The scheme
funded by Belfast City Council and Tourism NI and administered by Visit Belfast
provides support to eligible associations to host conference and meetings in
Belfast and Northern Ireland and further enhance the profile of the region as a
business events destination.
Other
conferences and events in the pipeline in the summer months include Harkin
International Disability Employment Summit in June and the Intensive Care
Society State of the Art Congress in July – which combined will deliver an
estimated economic impact of more than £3 million.
Visit Belfast’s CEO,
Gerry Lennon, added: “We have worked incredibly hard to ensure that events and
conferences in Belfast contribute to the growth and development of the
city. Those efforts and multi-millions of pounds of investment by the
sector have elevated the City’s reputation in the global meetings and events
marketplace whilst having the unique ability to showcase the amazing,
world-leading skills, knowledge and innovation that exist here, putting the
city and region on the map as an exciting place to visit, exchange ideas, do
business and invest in.”
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
