Adrienne Clarke : When The CCD opened in 2010, it clearly helped establish Dublin as a strong contender to host some of the world’s highest-profile conferences. This is evidenced not only by the standard of events we have hosted, but also by the city’s climb up 10 places in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) rankings over the last three years.

In just three and a half years we have welcomed over 900 events with over 900,000 total delegate days, and have built an impressive corporate and association client list. We are now taking booking enquiries up to 10 years in advance for large-scale association events, and we are also experiencing strong demand for shorter lead-in corporate meetings and conferences throughout the year. Furthermore, winning 26 awards, including runner up for ‘World’s Best Conference Centre’ at the AIPC Apex Awards 2012, has also helped cement our reputation as one of Europe’s most esteemed conference venues.

Adrienne Clarke : When The CCD opened in 2010, it was declared the world’s first carbon neutrally constructed international convention centre, with a net impact of the building’s construction on the environment of zero. The building was considered ‘carbon neutral’ due to the low carbon cement used during its construction phase, together with the fact that all unavoidable carbon emissions were offset by investing in carbon credits in accordance with the Voluntary Carbon Standards (VCS). Using this material over standard concrete significantly saved on the emission of carbon dioxide and other harmful pollutants which can contribute to global warming.

Since then, we achieved ISO 14001 accreditation just one year after opening, and we consistently strive towards on-going environmental improvement in our business practices with a view to leading environmental best practice across our industry. For example, effective waste management procedures and staff training helped us to achieve a remarkable recycling rate of 92% in 2013, a figure which we are working hard to maintain.

Adrienne Clarke : Made up of 22 multi-functional rooms, we have hosted meetings, conferences, receptions, banquets and exhibitions of all shapes and sizes. In addition the building boasts a 2,000 seat auditorium, 4,500 sq meters of exhibition space and banqueting facilities for up to 3,000 guests.Made up of 22 multi-functional rooms, we have hosted meetings, conferences, receptions, banquets and exhibitions of all shapes and sizes. In addition the building boasts a 2,000 seat auditorium, 4,500 sq meters of exhibition space and banqueting facilities for up to 3,000 guests.

The entire venue is finished to the highest specifications and incorporates the latest technology throughout, while the stunning glass atrium over six spacious foyers offers panoramic views of Dublin’s cityscape and never fails to impress!

On the outside, the building’s signature coloured ring beams have become an iconic part of the city’s skyline. They also give our clients the unique capability of branding the whole building in their signature colour, creating the ultimate statement for arriving guests.

The entire venue is finished to the highest specifications and incorporates the latest technology throughout, while the stunning glass atrium over six spacious foyers offers panoramic views of Dublin’s cityscape and never fails to impress!

On the outside, the building’s signature coloured ring beams have become an iconic part of the city’s skyline. They also give our clients the unique capability of branding the whole building in their signature colour, creating the ultimate statement for arriving guests.

Adrienne Clarke : As Ireland’s first purpose-built international conference venue, The CCD offers delegates and clients a unique event experience with exceptional service. In addition to offering clients world-class event facilities, our customer satisfaction rates rank consistently above 95%.

We pride ourselves on offering first-class service with a high level of professionalism and expertise, coupled with a sense of Irish warmth and hospitality. Every event is assigned a core team of an Event Manager, a Technical Production Manager, a Hospitality Manager and an IT Manager, supported by a full range of in-house services, such as hosts, furniture, cleaning and security. By allocating an experienced and dedicated team to every event, we ensure that the client’s experience is at the heart of our approach.

In addition, at The CCD flexibility is key. Clients can not only avail of a range of fully inclusive packages, but they also have the opportunity to take advantage of our ‘blank-canvas’ approach and full in-house production capabilities. Whatever the event, be it a conference, meeting, exhibition, or banquet, we have the production equipment and expertise to bring that event to life, and deliver a memorable experience for guests. Furthermore, the fact that all equipment and expertise is on-site can also greatly aid clients on a budget, as it eliminates the need to outsource and manage the logistics of third party suppliers.

In a wider sense, sustaining delegate numbers in today’s economic climate can be a challenge, and it is therefore essential that an event’s location appeals to the business tourist. The success of The CCD can therefore also be attributed to Dublin’s suitability as an international conference destination. In recent years, Dublin has become known as the business hub of Europe, and with the European headquarters of many of the world’s leading organisations located in the vicinity of The CCD, we are ideally positioned to entice this market.

Adrienne Clarke : Ireland’s location at the gateway to Europe offers many logistical benefits and makes it the perfect choice to host major travel and trade events. With Dublin Airport just 20 minutes away from The CCD serving direct flights to the UK, US, Europe and the Middle East, it is highly accessible to all. In addition, many of the city’s key tourist attractions, including its many museums, art galleries, the Guinness Storehouse and the famous Temple Bar area, are within walking distance or a short tram ride away, enabling business and leisure to be easily combined.
Last year we hosted the association for 84% of the world’s airlines, IATA’s World Passenger Symposium, as well as the Opportunities Overseas Expo. While this February we welcomed back Hostelworld.com’s annual conference for the second year in a row. We are also looking forward to hosting the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) TV Market Conference in April, and the 2014 World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) in September, which will feature four days of networking, trading, seminars and workshops for key organisations that provide youth, student and educational travel.