A glittering showcase of Galway as a business tourism destination was organised by The Galmont Hotel & Spa in partnership with the Galway Convention Bureau last month when the 13th annual Business Events Conference from AIPCO (Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers ) arrived in the city.
An impressive feat of city-wide cooperation and collaboration, the 230-plus delegates were treated to two days filled with informative talks, networking opportunities and plenty of surprises along the way. Highlights included a guided tour of the city by the town crier, a drinks reception in the magnificent surrounds of St Nicholas Collegiate Church and even a full size, 30ft long, 8ft wide, and 27ft high Galway Hooker, Loveen on loan from Galway Hooker Sailing Club standing proud in The Galmont ballroom to oversee the delicious gala dinner and bring the conference theme "Tides of Change; Navigating Success through Collaboration" to life.
Those who attended took to email and social media following the “stand-out” event to show their appreciation. One delegate wrote: “I thought The Galmont and Galway absolutely knocked it out of the park! I’ve been to many AIPCOs at this stage, and I can genuinely say this one was the absolute best.” Another added: “The entire event was a masterclass in what good should look like in the hospitality industry.”
General manager of The Galmont Hotel & Spa, Stefan Lundstrom said: “To say that we’re proud of how the recent AIPCO events conference went is an understatement. A huge number of local businesses and associations across Galway came together to show the hundreds of delegates what our wonderful city is all about. Everyone wanted to do their part and showcase the city at its very best and that’s exactly what we did.
“In the weeks since, I’ve been genuinely inundated with messages from those who attended telling me how much they enjoyed it and what a huge impression Galway has made on them," he added. "Such cross-city collaboration is a very unique and a special thing and I think we’ve shown everyone who came along what a City of Tribes can make happen when we set our collective mind to something.”
Niamh Stack from the Galway Convention Bureau added: “At the Galway Convention Bureau , our mission is to showcase the region as a premier destination for international business events, and we couldn't be prouder of the collaborative efforts that made this conference a success.
"We are fortunate to have such supportive industry partners and friends who went above and beyond when asked to contribute. The Galmont Hotel & Spa, Galway provided a venue that will be hard to match. Karen Jones, Stefan Lundstrom, Leona Henry and their team delivered outstanding hospitality, food, and service. Thank you to Fáilte Ireland, Galway City Council, and our members for their continued support in bringing international business events to the region.”
