Skift Meetings – 5 Ways Meeting in Ireland Balances the Best of Both Worlds

This sponsored content was created in collaboration with a Skift partner.

Modern meeting planners are typically forced to choose between competing interests, such as major metropolitan cities or rest and relaxation in nature, and shiny new venues or historical cultural experiences. To break free from dichotomies like these, Ireland offers the best of both worlds to planners and attendees alike. 

While today’s incentive travelers expect modern amenities and accessible locations, the experience they remember is so much more than meeting rooms. According to the Incentive Research Foundation, 81% of attendees said that access to unique experiences is a top factor of positive incentive travel. Seventy-four percent said that engaging with and gaining an understanding of a destination’s culture is important to them. 

Skift Meetings partnered with Meet in Ireland to create this report on The Island of Ireland: Where Meetings and Incentives Connect People and Place. Here are the top ways Ireland makes it easy for planners to design well-balanced gatherings that capture all the most important meeting and incentive travel trends today.

Next-Gen Innovation and Centuries of Culture

As a hub of industry, it’s no surprise that many of today’s most boundary-pushing thinkers call Ireland home. The country hosts operations centers for 16 of the world’s top 20 tech companies, nine of the world’s top 10 pharmaceutical companies, and 14 of the world’s top 15 medical technology companies. Research institutions like Trinity College, the University of Galway, Queen’s University Belfast, and Ulster University nurture the ideas that go on to change the world.

Ireland’s reputation for innovation isn’t just technological, though. The local cultural tradition includes literary greats, theatrical trendsetters, and musical genius. This combination of cutting-edge intellectual developments and renowned cultural legacy makes for memorable, well-rounded meetings. Whether through a storytelling workshop at The Abbey Theatre in Dublin or a small-group dinner to end the day with a pint and a live trad session, Ireland invites attendees to participate hands-on in this blend of worlds.

Future-Forward Design and Timeless Elegance

Ireland is well-known for its rich architectural and archaeological history. There are more than 30,000 castles dotted across the island, with some dating back as far as the 11th century. Planners can book one of these historical properties in its entirety, giving attendees a chance to live not just in luxury, but like royalty. 

At the same time, new hospitality developments are creating even more opportunities for groups to visit Ireland. With a growing presence from well-known international hotel groups, such as the Radisson Red in Galway and the Hilton Garden Inn in Derry, there are options for events of every size and budget.

Major infrastructure developments have also made Ireland itself more accessible to large groups. The renovated Dexcom Stadium in Galway will accommodate 2,200 attendees upon reopening in 2026, and the sprawling Landmark Arena is set to open in Dublin in 2027, featuring a 5,000-seat indoor arena and conference facilities for up to 1,500 attendees.

Get-It-Done Productivity and Deep Decompression

Despite popular emphasis on the rich traditions of the land, Ireland also offers several state-of-the-art meeting venues designed to meet modern event standards. The Kilarney Convention Center hosts up to 2,000 attendees across 7,500 square feet of exhibit space and 15 meeting rooms. Convention Centre Dublin, with a capacity for 5,5000 attendees, plans to be carbon neutral by 2025 and was recently named the Best International Venue at the C&IT Awards. ICC Belfast boasts 75,000 square feet of convention space, drawing in the likes of AstraZeneca and Deloitte. 

Although these purpose-built convention centers are conveniently located in or near major cities, they are also just a stone’s throw from opportunities to relax and recharge in nature. Refuges like Dingle, Tralee, and Finn Lough make a perfect complement to the business side of incentive travel. Visitors can hike stunning mountains and cliffs, take boat tours to uninhabited islands, and explore the beaches and coastlines of the Atlantic. Castles, cabins, and estates in these stunning escapes also offer wellness activities, including yoga, sound baths, and stargazing.

Bucket-List Icons and Under-the-Radar Experiences

When it comes to experiences, Ireland offers incentive travelers opportunities to check once-in-a-lifetime adventures off their bucket lists. Who among us hasn’t dreamed of touring the Guinness Storehouse or visiting a distillery to taste Irish Whiskey at the source?

Then there are all the lesser-known gems of the island. Planners might choose to expose their guests to experiences they might not have discovered on their own, such as gazing out over the Blue Stack Mountains from Lough Eske Castle, a secluded retreat at Fota Island Resort, or a local-led foodie tour through the city of Derry. Either way, group travel in Ireland unlocks more personalized experiences for guests and high-touch branding opportunities for planners.

Unmatched Convenience and Unmatched Culture

Ireland offers such a diverse range of landscapes, experiences, and opportunities that it’s easy to forget it’s all conveniently located on a relatively small island. The country has made significant strides to make visiting easier, including the introduction of expanded airport facilities that help cities like Dublin, Kerry, Cork, and Belfast welcome an increasing number of travelers each year. 

But above and beyond that convenience, Ireland is perhaps best known for its friendliness. The island’s warmth makes visitors feel at home, which can be even more impactful when people are traveling for business or taking incentive trips.

In this report, you’ll find:

• An introduction to Ireland’s deep intellectual and academic resources
• Ideas for connecting innovation and culture in the same incentive trip
• Examples of the modern and historic meeting venues planners can choose from
• Ways guests can immerse themselves in culture and history with the locals
• Opportunities to pair world-class business facilities with natural R&R escapes
• Once-in-a-lifetime experiences that make Ireland an unparalleled destination

This content was created collaboratively by Meet in Ireland and Skift’s branded content studio, SkiftX.