- Doors open at 8am; opening ceremony at 9.30am
- Entertainment showcase from 5pm – 7pm
Connect16, the business tourism and experiential event showcasing Ireland to the world, anticipates 2,000 people visitors when it opens in the RDS Wednesday September 28.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Jonathan Bradshaw (Meetology Lab, UK); David Meade (BBC); Ross Mooney (Google) and Martin Lewis (CAT Publications) are among the speakers.
The event will attract 2,000 event professionals and international delegations will attend the first Connect16 business tourism showcase and experiential event at the RDS r.
- The event is moderated by broadcaster Claire Byrne, with sessions including:
- The science powering human connectivity (Jonathan Bradshaw, Meetology Lab);
- How to leverage the talent of a city to attract international meetings (Martin Lewis, Managing Editor, CAT Publications);
- Capturing the moments that matter for today’s business traveller (Ross Mooney, Google);
- Mindreading for business (David Meade, BBC).
Live music and entertainment on the Experiential Stage willl be provided by Dublin Gospel Choir, DAMHSA, The Key Notes, Seo Linn, The Joshua Tree and others throughout the day.
Chef demonstrations at the Festival of Food stage from top chefs including Stephen Gibson (Pichet), Andrew Rudd (Medley Fleet St), Gareth Mullins (Marker Hotel) and Julianne Forrestal (Sodexo Ireland).
The 230 exhibitors include hotels, venues, technology providers and creative event specialists – will assemble at booths themed around Ireland’s regions and counties. Picture shows partners on the Kildare stand, Tony Lenehan, Kildare Failte, Evan Arkwright, The Curragh, Feargal Barton, Bartons Coaches, Oran Masterson, Xtreme.ie, Conor Mallaghan, Carton House, Adrienne Mooney, The K Club. Middle row: John Osborne, National Stud, Keith Gallagher, Mondello Park, Catherine Murray, Naas Racecourse, Monica O Byrne, Carton House,Erica Elliott, Punchestown, Orla McCabe, Killashee Hotel. Front row: Nicola McGrane, Conference Partners, Catherine Killeen, Westgrove Hotel, Karen Gerathy, the Osprey Hotel, Alison Johnson, Kildare Village, Phil Donnelly, Kildare Failte and Ivan Keatley, Mayor of Kildare.
International event, corporate, agency and association delegations from the US, England, Canada, France and Germany and other European locations will be in attendance.
- Full event programme available at www.connectshowcase.ie.
- Watch here Nicola McGrane speaking about the event at the launch of Kildare Failte’s stand
- Watch here Conor Mallaghan of Carton house who hosted the Kildare Failte event
- Watch here Ivan Keatley Mayor of Kildare speaking at the Kildare Failte event
