PHOTOS 20 Years of Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau sees €150M economic impact for Shannon Region

20th anniversary of Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau. Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau marked its 20th anniversary with the announcement that it has attracted conferences and events to the Shannon region worth €150 million for the local economy. Picture: Brian Arthur

20th anniversary of Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau announces €150M economic impact for Shannon Region over its 20 years

The Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau marked its 20th anniversary with the announcement that it has attracted international conferences and events to the Shannon region worth €150 million for the local economy. 

The bureau celebrated two decades of excellence in attracting prestigious conferences and events to the region by hosting a celebratory event for its many partners and ambassadors at the Strand Hotel, Limerick. 

Reflecting on their remarkable journey, Karen Ronan, General Manager, Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau, stated, “We’ve overcome numerous challenges in the mid-west region over the past two decades, and it is truly phenomenal to be celebrating our 20th anniversary. Our efforts have resulted in an economic impact of over 150 million euros for the wider Shannon region, including Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, and Offaly.” 

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The Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau serves as a convention bureau while also encompassing a sports remit. Its primary objective is to attract international conferences, events, sport competitions, and high-end luxury incentive business to the region. This focus brings significant economic benefits for the hospitality industry and entire tourism infrastructure in the Shannon region with knock-on effects for the wider economy.  

The bureau works collaboratively with Failte Ireland, the County Councils in Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, and Offaly, Shannon Airport, and all tourism stakeholders in the region to attract events of substantial scale and impact. 

“The success of this collaboration has created a win-win situation for our entire tourism infrastructure in the Shannon region,” emphasized Karen Ronan. 

Their partnership with the University of Limerick Sports Campus in attracting international sports events demonstrates the impact. This year alone, the Shannon Region will welcome the World Tag Rugby Championship, the World Youth Archery Championships and the European Ultimate Frisbee Championships. UL also recently hosted the Oceans Conference highlighting the diversity of events hosted in the area. 

Speaking at the anniversary celebration, Tony Brazil, Chairperson, Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, said “Since its inception, the team has worked with hundreds of ambassadors across sport, culture, business and academia.  These ambassadors work tirelessly with us in the Bureau and Failte Ireland to bid for, and win, international events for the Shannon Region.  Each conference or sporting delegate is worth €1,880 to the local economy so you can see quickly how valuable this segment of tourism is.” 

Sam Johnston, Fáilte Ireland, said “Many congratulations to the Bureau on reaching this significant milestone. It is a testament to the team there, the Chair and board and the wider business events industry in the Shannon Region. And of course, a massive part of the success is with thanks to the many conference ambassadors who have put themselves forward to bring the world in for conferences and events.”  

Looking ahead, the bureau is committed to fostering collaboration and attracting events with sustainability at their core, ensuring a lasting impact and legacy. The long-term vision includes building on the 2027 hosting of the prestigious Ryder Cup and aligning all efforts, from now until then and beyond, to attract more delegates and visitors to the region. 

Karen Ronan also highlighted the need for a multipurpose event centre of significant scale in the mid-west, capable of accommodating up to 1,000 participants, saying “such a facility would significantly enhance our efforts to attract high-end and lucrative business and sports tourism to the region.” 

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Pictures: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick