Conferences and events in Cork to bring in €14m in 2025

Cork Convention Bureau hosted its annual business events showcase, Keep Cork Meeting, at Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Deputy county mayor Cllr Ann Marie Aherne, Aaron Mansworth, Trigon Hotels & Visit Cork Board, Aileen Hickey, Tourism Ireland,, Conor Healy (Cork Chamber ceo & Visit Cork board), Seamus Heaney (Visit Cork), Nicola Radley (Cork Co Council director of community, tourism & rural development), Deirdre Cole, Fáilte Ireland, Cllr Peter Horgan, Visit Cork Board and deputy Lord Mayor, and Eddie McCarthy, Ballyhass Adventure Group and Visit Cork Board at the Keep Cork Meeting Business Events Showcase, organised by Visit Cork and held at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Thursday. Picture: Joleen Cronin

Cork aims to host conferences and events this year worth €14m to the region, the head of Visit Cork said. 

The news comes as  Cork Convention Bureau (CCB) successfully hosted its annual business events showcase, Keep Cork Meeting, at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, bringing together representatives of the region’s conference and events industry, with 150 attendees and 45 exhibitors, including hotels, venues, activity providers, and event companies.

“This year already we have submitted bids, or have been asked to bid, for 12 international conferences that — if we secured them all — would mean 4,500 delegates in Cork between 2026 and 2029," said head of Visit Cork, Seamus Heaney. "That’s just the first quarter of the year. Last year we secured business events to the value of €13.9m, so we would expect to match this or exceed it in 2025.”

Evelyn O’Sullivan, manager of Cork Convention Bureau, said business tourists contribute three times more to the local economy than leisure tourists. "Many are now extending their stays by two to four days, which presents a huge growth opportunity. We’re here to support anyone looking to bring a conference to Cork with expert advice and hands-on assistance. Our aim is to inspire local companies to think of Cork first when planning their next corporate event.” 

Cork Convention Bureau is a public-private partnership dedicated to promoting Cork as a business tourism destination and operates as part of Visit Cork, which also promotes leisure tourism under the 'Pure Cork' brand.