Cork: A City for Business and Human Connections
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Cork has become a hub for some of the world’s most influential companies, from Apple and Siemens to Amazon, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. This concentration of industry expertise has made Cork a natural choice for hosting sector-focused conferences
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2nd Apr, 2025
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Cork has long been a city that values connections between industry and academia, global business and local communities, history and forward-thinking innovation. This balance makes it an increasingly attractive destination for international association meetings and corporate events. With a thriving life sciences sector, a growing technology hub and a strong culture of sustainability and community involvement, Cork is solidifying its role as a top player in international business events.At the English Market, which has been at the heart of Cork’s community for centuries, I met Evelyn O’Sullivan, Manager of the Cork Convention Bureau. Over coffee, she described how the destination’s business strengths, academic expertise and commitment to long-term event legacies create the right conditions for associations looking to make a lasting impact. As we discussed, it became clear that Cork’s local small and medium-sized businesses and projects, as well as larger industry, academia, and cultural centres, are all working together to create unique experiences for international delegates.Jesús Guerrero Chacón
An Irish City Defined by Innovation and Industry
Cork has become a hub for some of the world’s most influential companies, from Apple and Siemens to Amazon, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. Their European headquarters in the city have created an ecosystem where global business and cutting-edge innovation thrive. This concentration of industry expertise has made Cork a natural choice for hosting sector-focused conferences. The city’s academic strength further enhances its appeal as a knowledge-based event destination. University College Cork (UCC), a leader in research in various areas such as nanotechnology, food science and pharmaceuticals, plays a key role in attracting international scientific and medical congresses. In 2025, Cork will welcome 1,500 astrophysics and space research experts for the European Astronomical Society’s Annual Meeting, demonstrating how the city’s research credentials contribute to its growing profile in the global conference landscape.
The Cork Ambassadors Programme, led by the Cork Convention Bureau, is at the heart of this collaboration between local business and academia with international meeting planners. This initiative engages local experts to promote the city as a destination, using their connections in the industry to secure international meetings that align with Cork’s key sectors.
Sustainability and Community Initiatives
As we walked through the English Market, Evelyn explained how Cork’s conference venues, hotels, and businesses are integrating sustainability into their operations. She introduced me to one of the most innovative examples: the Cork Rooftop Farm, an urban farming project perched atop a city-centre building. This initiative supplies fresh, locally grown produce to Cork’s kitchens, whether for home cooks, restaurants, hotels, or event catering, demonstrating how sustainability can be seamlessly woven into the delegate experience.
An evening stroll through the Victorian Quarter (VQ) with Katherine Fitzpatrick, Director of Operations for the quarter, made it clear that Cork’s commitment to sustainability is not just about the environment but also about revitalising its urban spaces and strengthening its business community. The VQ is a dynamic regeneration project that aims to position itself as Ireland’s most vibrant, sustainable and well-connected district. Strategically located within walking distance of the city centre and railway station, the VQ benefits from strong transport links, making it an attractive location for residents and visitors. A Board of Directors leads the project, which comprises local business owners, from boutique hotels and restaurants to bars and a film festival, all working towards a shared vision of creating a thriving district that promotes independent business, culture, and sustainability.
Beyond the public realm improvements and destination development, the VQ sets a precedent as Ireland’s first carbon-neutral business district. The area has committed to net-zero targets and has partnered with Munster Technological University’s Clean Technology Centre to help local businesses reduce carbon emissions and integrate green infrastructure.
The transformation of the VQ is also in line with Cork’s broader strategy for community-centric business events. The district's growth fosters collaboration between local businesses, civic organisations and cultural institutions, making it a model for how urban regeneration and economic development can go hand in hand. Katherine described the VQ’s long-term ambitions, from transforming the streets to creating a creative hub for local artists and performers, with the VQ at the heart of several initiatives. For business events looking to incorporate corporate social responsibility elements, Cork presents real opportunities to contribute to projects with a tangible impact. One of the most inspiring initiatives Katherine shared was Sanctuary Runners, a non-profit movement that started in Cork and has now expanded nationally. Supported by the Cork Convention Bureau, the initiative embodies its own ‘City of Welcomes’ ethos by bringing together Irish residents, international visitors, migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees through community running events. By using sport as a tool for inclusion, Sanctuary Runners reinforces Cork’s reputation as a city that values human connection. This commitment to social inclusion extends to the Cork Migrant Centre, based at Nano Nagle Place. More than a museum and heritage centre, it provides education and professional development programmes for refugees and asylum seekers, offering pathways toward integration and employment.
Evolving Business Events Infrastructure
Cork’s venues balance heritage and modernity, offering spaces for intimate gatherings and large-scale conferences. Currently, the largest conference venues in the city are Cork City Hall and the UCC, both of which regularly host high-profile academic and industry events. The City Hall can accommodate up to 900 delegates, making it one of the city’s premier conference venues. Meanwhile, the UCC provides state-of-the-art facilities in a prestigious academic environment. Looking ahead, Cork is preparing to welcome even larger conferences by developing a new convention centre, a project that will significantly expand the city’s capacity for international events.
The hotel landscape is also evolving to meet the needs of international delegates, combining contemporary design with Cork’s distinctive character. The River Lee Hotel, with its dedicated event spaces and riverside views, provides a sophisticated venue for corporate gatherings, while Moxy Cork and Residence Inn by Marriott offer a modern and flexible approach to business travel.
Other properties, such as the Imperial, Clayton and Maldron hotels, offer convenient access to meeting spaces, further expanding the city’s hospitality offering. The recently opened Premier Inn Cork, one of the largest hotels in the city, adds further capacity for large-scale events.
“Different. Friendly. Proud. Cultural. Progressive. Quirky. Charming. These are some of the words frequently used by visitors to describe Cork, Ireland’s compact second city, beautifully located on the southern coast between fertile farmlands and bountiful sea. A University City, with a centuries-old heritage of learning and progress at its core, and a love of food and the arts in its soul, Cork is a very special place which will certainly have your delegates talking long after your event is over. Come meet in Cork and get away from “business as usual”.Evelyn O'Sullivan, Manager of the Cork Convention Bureau
Published by Meeting Media Group, the publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.
