Killarney Chamber partners are central to our work, supporting us with their insight, expertise, contacts and knowledge. Kerry Convention Bureau (KCB), headquartered in Killarney, is a non-profit organisation whose remit is to attract MICE (Meetings, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition) events to Killarney and broader Kerry regions. With a well-established and strong Killarney membership base comprising of venues, hotels, activity and transport providers, KCB offers free impartial guidance and support to national and international event planners, associations and convention organisers who are considering Killarney for a business event.
Killarney Chamber supports KCB to strengthen the evidence base for Killarney’s MICE sector. The Chamber improves Killarney’s ‘welcome’ / ‘céad míle fáilte’ to large business conferences and events. It steps up mayoral and ministerial support and potentially support from key influencers to strengthen bids for conferences and congresses and to welcome these events to the town. Physical welcomes (for example ‘dressing’ the town and providing access to town assets and venues) proves regularly that Killarney cares about and wants this business.
The Chamber works with KCB to expand Kerry Convention Bureau’s Ambassador Programme by engaging high-profile figures and subject matter experts who can make the case for Killarney – either directly with conference organisers and event planners or as speakers at events. Killarney Chamber also supports KCB in bidding to win larger-scale conventions and corporate meetings in key sectors.
KCB, in partnership with Killarney Chamber, maintains and builds Killarney’s global profile as a leading events destination by bringing Killarney to the world at leading industry trade shows and through digital channels including kerryconventionbureau.com. The benefit business visitors bring to the town is huge – one in five of Killarney’s workforce are employed directly or indirectly by the tourism sector. Business visitors spend millions of euros annually in Killarney’s restaurants, venues, hotels, attractions and shops, helping to animate the town and sustain businesses and cultural institutions.
Working together Killarney Chamber continues to support and expand the KCB led ‘Ambassador Programme’ to engage academic and industry sector experts to champion Killarney at home and abroad.
Pioneering Sustainable Events Tourism in Kerry
Green and sustainable events aim to counteract or minimise the environmental impact they have on the planet. As Killarney businesses become more eco-conscious, the interest and demand for green and sustainable events staging is steadily increasing. Public consciousness is growing, and Killarney MICE businesses recognise that accountability and positive decisions around CSR (corporate social responsibility) are more important than ever.
Since 2018, KCB has taken the lead in completing an annual submission to the Global Destination Sustainability Index.
The Global Destination Sustainability Index is a world leading sustainability performance benchmarking and improvement programme, requiring destinations to complete a rigorous annual online submission process, fully aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) destination criteria.
Kerry has maintained a presence in the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) Top 20 since 2019, currently ranking #19 out of 100 international destinations and #1 Sustainable Tourism destination in Ireland.
Through Kerry’s participation in the GDS-Index, Killarney’s entire tourism ecosystem benefits; from visitors, to the local community, to suppliers, businesses and local government.
It facilitates region wide collaboration between key stakeholders, brings measurable improvement at all levels, drives sustainable performance among suppliers and provides a vehicle for best practice sharing.
Killarney Chamber is proud to take a partnership approach with KCB, KTIF, Kerry County Council and Fáilte Ireland to create a regenerative and resilient community in Killarney, who prioritise best practice in sustainability.
Working together, we continue to strengthen Killarney’s growing recognition on a global stage as a leading sustainable destination of choice. Through active and targeted marketing, we demonstrate how holding a Green Event in Killarney is made easy, generating business opportunities from national and international clients looking for an attractive destination in which to host meaningful, memorable and sustainable events.