INTERNATIONAL Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) is an £83.7 million ($117.31 million) joint venture between the owners of the Celtic Manor Resort and Welsh Government and is managed by Celtic Manor’s leadership team responsible for the successful delivery in Wales of the 2014 Nato Summit and the 2010 Ryder Cup.
Opening in 2019, the ICC Wales will be located within the forest-surrounded grounds of the five star Celtic Manor Resort in Newport just two minutes from the M4.
The new-build 26,000 sq m venue will accommodate 5,000 delegates and includes a 4,000 sq m pillar-free main hall, a 1,500 seated auditorium, 12 flexible meeting rooms, a double-height glass atrium and a 2,500sqm outdoor plaza for outside events and teambuilding.
Ian Edwards, CEO of Celtic Manor Resort and the International Convention Centre Wales, said: "We have a hugely skilled events team here at ICC Wales, with experience of successfully hosting major events such as the Ryder Cup and Nato Summit. We have already secured some important conference wins for ICC Wales and are currently pitching for many more. The economy of Wales, and particularly South Wales, is growing at a pace and what’s really exciting is that ICC Wales is helping to put Wales firmly on the map as a major playerin the international events industry. The exposure for Wales and increased footfall to the country, and in particular Newport and south-east Wales, will be fantastic for the destination, and businesses in the surrounding area.”
It’s an exciting Time for events in Wales, with the Volvo Ocean Race coming to Cardiff in May and June 2018, and a new direct daily Doha flight with Qatar Airways connecting Wales with the Middle East and beyond.
Wales’ epic landscapes, paired with unique activities, provides a versatile offering to suit events of all sizes, whether it’s larger international events and conferences, smaller executive meetings or incentives and team-building in a superb natural environment. In September, ICC Wales announced that it will host the Alzheimer’s Research Conference in 2020, building on the strong expertise and knowledge in Wales to support this specialist event.
The Hotel Indigo and Marco Pierre White Rooftop Restaurant also opened in November 2017, offering corporate rates to Mice clients. This hotel features stunning views of the Cardiff skyline, and boutique bedrooms that reflect the vibrancy of the city, with the themes ‘Made in Wales’, ‘Welsh Industry’ and ‘Music’ embodied in local art and natural materials.
Rob Holt, director of tourism development and major events, Welsh Government, said: “Wales is a fantastic destination for conferencing and events. This is proven in the range of venues and activities on offer, such as world-class facilities with the new 5,000 delegate ICC Wales development and smaller boutique venues such as Llangoed Hall, alongside unique outdoor experiences such as Surf Snowdonia, Fforest and Call of the Wild.
“The recently announced Wales Way is an exciting string to our bow to showcase Wales’s unique destination features. A family of three national scenic touring routes, the Wales Way packs in over 6,000 years of history and provides visitors with itineraries through the very best of Wales’ landscapes and attractions. It is a perfect addition to our business offering – companies from the world over will be able to create bespoke trips and incentives around Wales’s inspiring attractions and destinations such as our Unesco World Heritage Site castles and world-renowned outdoor products like Zipworld, within reach of these scenic roads, to explore the best of what Wales has to offer.”