Whom You Know: NIGHTLIGHT: BELFAST MEANS BUSINESS TOURISM IRELAND PUTS BELFAST ON MAP AS TOP CONFERENCE DESTINATION

Thursday, September 30, 2010

NIGHTLIGHT: BELFAST MEANS BUSINESS TOURISM IRELAND PUTS BELFAST ON MAP AS TOP CONFERENCE DESTINATION

It's not who you know, it's Whom You Know, and Peachy Deegan knows a lot of great Irish people and in fact used to live in Cork. We are confident the success of Whom You Know is due in no small part to the fact that she did in fact kiss the Blarney Stone. We were delighted to visit with key members of the Irish government recently to learn more about the North of Ireland. Peachy has been to 26 out of the 32 counties, and has never been to the North. Now it is on her list and it should be on yours too.

At an event, co-hosted by Tourism Ireland and Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau, attended by leading American business tourism contacts and US travel media, the Northern Ireland’s Tourism Minister Arlene Foster spoke at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central, in New York:
“Belfast is fast gaining a reputation as a city capable of host all kinds of major events from conferences to international music and sporting events. The conference and meetings market is a crucial element to our tourism performance and today’s event is an important opportunity to ensure Belfast and Northern Ireland is well and truly on the international conference map.
Belfast boasts award-winning conference centers, quality hotel accommodation and a host of unique venues and attractions, set in a compact city centre, which is continually changing and developing.
An excellent infrastructure, coupled with a distinctive cultural experience, means that Belfast and Northern Ireland can compete with the best destinations in the world in the lucrative conference and business tourism market.
In fact, so far this year Belfast has won 65 new national and international conventions worth almost $30 million to the city and has hosted 87 International meetings. Some upcoming international conventions to be held in Belfast include the International Coastal Management Conference – 2011 and the International Mammalogical Congress to be held in 2013.”

Michael McCormick , Marketing Director, Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau, said: “Millions has been invested in re-development and as a result, Belfast has been transformed beyond recognition in the past decade and has evolved into a confident and cosmopolitan city of European distinction eager to welcome your next conference, meeting or event. Inspirational purpose-built meeting venues, alongside a host of unique locations for conferences and events, make Belfast an exciting and novel business destination.”

Alison Metcalfe, Vice President Marketing, Tourism Ireland commented “Tourism Ireland is committed to ensuring that Belfast and Northern Ireland increase its share of the international meetings and conventions market.
Belfast’s track record in hosting over 100,000 overseas delegates over the past 10 years is indicative of the growing popularity of this destination as a conference and meeting destination .
With ease of access from the US, UK and Europe, Northern Ireland is ideally positioned to attract association delegates from all over the world.”

Among those we enjoyed seeing/meeting at the reception included:
Lisa Kearns
Mr. and Mrs. John R. Hart
Helen Maguire
Judith McLoughlin
Alix Mulholland
Martin McCrossan
Hugh Maguire
Neven Maguire
Sinead Grace
Niall Gibbons
Frances Maguire
Ann Hilden
Susan Murphy
Louise O'Neill
Patricia O'Reilly
Jamie Hill
Robert Cusack
Deborah Matchett
Bernard McMullan

www.meetinireland.com/us

Recent Testimonials by Brand Ambassadors on their Experience with Whom You Know

"I work with Peachy Deegan because she's prolific at what she does. She's a hard worker, she's thoughtful and she's tasteful at what she writes which is very important. Peachy gets the facts correct, and just that alone is worth its weight in gold."

-Edward Tricomi, Master Stylist and Owner of Warren-Tricomi
https://warrentricomi.com/

"No one has yet to express their taste for our cuisine better than Peachy Deegan on Whom You Know. Thank you for transforming our flavor into words, unlike any other before.
Sometimes WHOM YOU KNOW, really makes a difference and Ammos Estiatorio is grateful to know Peachy Deegan!"
-
Dimitris Nakos, Founder and Owner of
Ammos Estiatorio
https://ammosnewyork.com/

“Whom You Know has done an amazing job of featuring our company over many years [seven]. Peachy has worked tirelessly to create a well-curated selection of topics and brands that are clearly of relevance to her growing audience of readers. Her articles are filled with great insights based on first-hand experience. She does her research, knows her business and is a pleasure to work with!”

-David Sasuga, Owner of Fresh Origins Microgreens
www.FreshOrigins.com

"Peachy Deegan has the pulse of the nation and highlights exceptional opinion leaders in more than 23,000 inspiring and entertaining posts. Her 100,000 twitter followers are a true testimony to Peachy’s ability to inspire, motivate and entertain. She is a feminine force to be reckoned with and an exemplary example of an influential voice in today’s world."

-Mica Mosbacher, author of the new book The Hurricane Factor: Stormside Patriots and tv political commentator

"It was an honour to be chosen for Movers and Shakers by Peachy Deegan. The questions in the interview were intelligent and insightful and I thoroughly enjoyed answering them. The reaction to the interview has been overwhelmingly positive and has helped bring my art practice to a wider audience."
-Damien Flood, Internationally Acclaimed Artist
http://www.damienflood.ie/

"We were so fortunate to hit Peachy’s radar. Her review of our Warmies was spot-on and came at a great time in our company’s early history.
Peachy has such a strong relationship with her readers. She provides honest and real comments; she is truly a trusted source in a very large circle
of consumers."
-Scott Wehrs
President
Intelex U.S.A.
http://www.intelexusallc.com/

"We at Primola love working with Whom You Know and are proud to have been a highly-ranked Manhattan restaurant by Peachy Deegan since 2012, and are featured seasonally. We appreciate the fantastic work Peachy does highlighting our cuisine with her sublime writing style and the whole neighborhood of the Upper East side. Also, we are glad that she has started a Made in Italy column! If you have the opportunity to be considered for review, we'd highly recommend working with her."
-Giuliano Zuliani, Owner of Primola Restaurant
https://www.facebook.com/Primola-Canaletto-restaurants-NYC-135616799831091

"
Peachy Deegan is a gem. She is wonderful to feature our Irish brands in 'Whom You Know'! The articles are beautifully and passionately presented, bringing products and brands to life, making both relevant and fun for her many faithful followers to read. I am immensely proud for our hand-crafted products to be included in this venue!"

-
Bill Follett
President, Belleek Group North America
www.Belleek.com

"As you know from my past features, Peachy Deegan and I were in the same class at Boston College prior to either of us becoming entrepreneurs. When we played together on the BC Alumni softball team in Central Park years ago, she mentioned she could not find a great dentist in Manhattan and could often be found networking on her phone in the outfield hiding from the ball. She was my second patient ever in 2006 when I opened my dental practice; I was one of the first sponsors on Whom You Know and the first Mover and Shaker featured in 2009 and have worked with her continuously since. She's even talked her friends that are doctors into being my patients, and they subsequently send their hospital colleagues. I don't know anyone that is as great of a networker and writer as Peachy, nevermind that she is upstanding and always good for her word. Cosmopolitan Dental is so happy to be in the company of the caliber of major brands she works with today, and although she will tell you a million ways to get your teeth dirty between Peachy's Picks, Terrific Takeout and Peachy's Pantry, Peachy Deegan will tell you there is only one way to get your teeth clean!"
-Dr. Garo Nazarian, Founder and Owner of Cosmopolitan Dental
http://cosmopolitandental.com/