Registration Opens for MeetWest 201 5
400 Businesses Expected to Attend West of Ireland’s Largest
Business Networking Event, Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, 18th & 19th
November
Registration is now open for MeetWest 2015, the largest business networking event in the
West of Ireland this year.
Hosted by Roscommon County Council, MeetWest 2015 is a two-day business networking
forum taking place at the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, on November 18th and 19th 2015.
Organised in partnership with the local authorities, local enterprise offices and state
development agencies in Roscommon, Mayo and Galway, MeetWest brings together a wide
range of companies from the West of Ireland and further afield to network and do business.
Now in its 5th year, organisers have tailored this year’s programme to maximise new and
innovative networking opportunities for attendees in a variety of formats.
It is anticipated that up to 400 delegates will attend the event making it an essential addition to
every business diary.
Launching Meet West 2015 Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Councillor Paddy
Kilduff said the event was a ‘not to be missed’ opportunity for businesses throughout the west
to showcase their services and network with potential business partners.
‘A key objective of this event is to highlight the range of companies that are operating
successfully in the region and create a momentum for further economic growth and recognise
the potential synergies between businesses operating in the West and how business can
support one another’, he said.
Roscommon County Council Acting Chief Executive Majella Hunt said: ‘Roscommon County
Council is very pleased to host MeetWest 2015. This event will provide businesses in the west
region with a great opportunity to generate new business and new business partnerships. The
experiences of those who participated over the past five years highlight the benefits that this
type of structured networking offers business. I would recommend to all businesses in the
region to join in MeetWest 2015 and start doing new business.’
MeetWest 2015 will begin on Day 1 with a two hour panel discussion entitled “The Challenge
of Change- Combining traditional and digital marketing for best results”. Speakers will include
social media expert Greg Fey, Joe.ie founder Niall McGarry, Gary Quinn, Digital Editor Irish
Times, Paul Young CEO of Cartoon Saloon and Ollie Daniels, CEO of the Insight Centre for Data
Analytics. The discussion will be chaired by TV3’s Colette Fitzpatrick.
This will be followed by informal networking among delegates as they sample top quality
produce from artisan producers based in County Roscommon.
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Day 1 will finish with a networking dinner addressed by serial entrepreneur and technology
investor Tom Morrisroe. A native of Ballaghadereen, Co. Roscommon, Morrisroe is founder of
Dublin based The Now Factory which delivers analytical solutions to the world’s largest
telecommunications operators.
Day 2 of MeetWest 2015 features the pre arranged business networking meetings. The
purpose built software system supporting the event will allow participating delegates to have
up to seventeen pre-arranged meetings on the day. Returning by popular demand this year will
be a number of ten to one meetings where delegates can meet selected businesses with up to
ten other delegates.
Registration for the event is now open on www.meetwest.ie. According to Sheila Byrnes, who
has co-ordinated the event for the past five years ‘it is critically important for businesses to
engage fully with the online registration process’.
‘In order for delegates to get the most from the two day event, it is important that they
complete their online business profile which will include a description of their business and the
businesses they want to meet at MeetWest 2015.’
‘Businesses attending should look at how best to present their company in such as way that
they are attractive to other companies and not just potential customers,’ says Sheila.
Last year over 4,500 business meetings were held during the two day networking event which
Sheila calls ‘speed dating for businesses’.
Partners organising MeetWest 2015 are Roscommon County Council, Mayo County Council,
Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Roscommon Local Enterprise Office, Mayo Local
Enterprise Office, Galway Local Enterprise Office, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Western
Development Commission, SCCUL Enterprises and supported by Enterprise Ireland and IDA.
ENDS
For further information please see www.meetwest.ie
To arrange media interviews please contact Carmel Dooley on 087 2349903 or email
carmel@prworks.ie
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