At ICC Belfast | Waterfront Hall | Ulster Hall our aim is to deliver memorable and unique live event experiences in Belfast to fulfil our overarching vision of doubling our business and growing our profit margins by 2023.
Our company’s ethos is ‘when we win, everyone wins’, from hotels and restaurants to coffee houses and bars. When conference delegates are queuing for their morning coffee and concert goers are buying a post gig pint in the Cathedral Quarter, this is driving economic impact; new money that would otherwise be spent elsewhere, into our city. From the moment visitors arrive in Belfast they experience a warm welcome so that when they return home, they will have great stories to tell their families and friends about all that Belfast has to offer.
It’s no secret that Belfast is a flourishing and vibrant tourism hotspot and it’s been going from strength to strength over the past few years. The destination has received a wealth of awards such as The Guardian’s Best UK City in 2016, the Rising Star of 2017 by National Geographic and Lonely Planet’s Top Place to Visit in 2018, to name just a few. Most recently, Belfast was awarded the national Purple Flag accreditation, which recognises the city as safe and welcoming for residents and visitors.
Team Belfast work tirelessly to put Belfast and Northern Ireland on the world stage to showcase what Belfast has to offer in terms of business opportunities, concerts and other live entertainment. ICC Belfast has hosted some of the biggest events from HBO’s Game of Thrones Season 8 European premiere, where Kit Harington and Maisie Williams were among the stars who walked the red carpet in the same space that had played host to over 1000 delegates the previous day for the Microbiology Society’s annual conference.
Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall have also welcomed world class acts including Lewis Capaldi and Snow Patrol through its doors for unforgettable experiences.
The versatility of Belfast is steeped in its history and culture, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall are two of the most iconic venues in the city, a place where people have been making memories since 1971 when Led Zeppelin performed their iconic song ‘Stairway to Heaven’, thereafter acts including Red Hot Chili Peppers and ACDC graced the Ulster Hall stage. The Ulster Hall has been the city’s beacon of entertainment for over a century, withstanding both world wars and the troubles all the while bringing people and communities together to enjoy live music and entertainment.
American Rock/Indie band, The Strokes recently announced their highly anticipated comeback tour, set to have only two European dates and two UK dates, which are going to be in Paris, Belgium, Belfast and London. The news of The Strokes’ tour sent shockwaves of thrill and excitement through the city of Belfast and the wider UK. With tickets sold out in 20 minutes, fans expressed their excitement on social media,
‘I have waited years to see these guys, love the @thestrokes, see you in Belfast!’
In 2003 The Strokes took to the Ulster Hall stage for a 17-song set that finished with the lead singer Julian Casablancas diving into the crowd during the final verse of “Take It or Leave It”. Casablancas was quoted as saying, “This is crazy, amazing, thank you.” It seems like February’s 2020 gig will be no different, to see an iconic band return to Belfast 17 years later is amazing. The Strokes have come full circle and return to a city that is full of ambition, optimism and above all energy.
We wait in anticipation to welcome The Strokes back to Belfast and look forward to witnessing fans create those ‘I was there when’ moments.
