ICC Belfast shortlisted in COVID Response Awards

Covid Response Awards

ICC Belfast has been shortlisted in the COVID Response Awards in the Best Pivot / Reinvention as a Result of COVID and Best Covid Response in Hospitality categories for the team's rapid response and their outstanding work when faced with the pandemic. 

These awards recognise the programme for business preparedness implemented that focuses on two key areas: 

• The People
• Innovative Solutions 

The People

Given that its people are at the heart of everything it does, ICC Belfast and sister venues Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall took swift action at the outset of COVID-19 to focus on the immediate priority of staying connected to them. An interim mission statement was introduced to recognise the extraordinary circumstances faced and the eight universal company values acted as a guide for decision making. As a result of the leadership shown during this time, every colleague can have confidence in the fact that staying connected and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the business has been the board and senior management teams’ number one priority. 

Innovative Solutions 

The need to meet, network, collaborate and create didn’t go away during the pandemic – it became greater than ever. In response, ICC Belfast became a hybrid-by-design convention centre and in June 2020 the first post-pandemic hybrid event was successfully delivered on behalf of a longstanding client, the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

As the demand for digital events grew, so too did the team’s ambitions. ICC Belfast’s sister entertainment venues, the Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall represent two of Belfast’s most iconic entertainment venues. A successful application to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Organisation Emergency Programme led to the launch of ‘Live from the Ulster Hall’ in December 2020, catapulting a 158-year-old concert hall into a new era of streaming and on-demand content. This project created an affordable route to market for the local arts industry, providing homegrown talent the opportunity to engage their audiences via digital platforms

As live business and entertainment events return, visitor safety remains the top priority at the COVID-Secure venues that have achieved the ‘We’re Good to Go’ industry standard. This award shortlist evidence the commitment to continuous improvement and a determination to consistently achieve and exceed the platinum standards in place.