Refreshing delivery for Coca-Cola HBC

Coca-Cola HBC operates across 29 countries, leveraging its localised business approach to make significant economic contributions to both Ireland and Northern Ireland. When selecting a venue for their annual employee conference, convenience, accessibility, and a distinct delegate experience are paramount considerations. Positioned on the island of Ireland, ICC Belfast holds a unique advantage in accommodating clients with all-island employee representation. Director of Events and Customer Experience at ICC Belfast Charlie McCloskey said:

Our location, which is situated within the United Kingdom and on the island of Ireland, is uniquely positioned to host events for organisations like Coca Cola HBC, as the venue is easily accessible for all employees, regardless of where they are based.

Coca-Cola HBC maximised every available space, showcasing the venue's versatility and adaptability for clients. Cityside Concourse was designated as a welcoming zone for employees, featuring a 'Caffe Vergnano' pop-up coffee shop and networking areas equipped with chilled fridges showcasing the complete Coca-Cola HBC brand portfolio. This zone seamlessly extended to the Gallery Spaces and Bars, offering attendees an opportunity to unwind, connect, and enjoy relaxed catering services. Hall 2 underwent a vibrant transformation into fun interactive zones, allowing participants to engage with various brands through innovative technologies, immersive augmented reality experiences, and participate in interactive video games.

The daytime conference took place in the Main Auditorium, featuring a lineup of internal speakers from Coca-Cola HBC who shared company updates and future strategies, all revolving around the theme of evolution. 

Serving as the emcee for the event, Irish comedian Neil Delamere remarked on stage, 'I've never witnessed a company conference quite like this!'. A surprise guest appearance during the conference came from former Ireland Rugby Captain, now Commercial Manager for global packaging company Ardagh Group, Johnny Sexton. Taking the stage, Johnny spoke openly about his celebrated rugby career, accomplishments, and how his leadership experience has facilitated his transition from the playing field to the boardroom.

In order to bring the conference to life through engaging presentations, interactive experiences, and entertainment, the client took advantage of ICC Belfast’s LED wall, lighting design, and stage sets. Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Specialist at Coca-Cola HBC, Rosa O’Farrell said: “ICC Belfast offered us a number of solutions to deliver the elements that we required for a conference of this scale and size.

We needed a big venue that could give us breakout rooms, give us booths, but also have that high spec AV that would give us the ‘whoa’ factor that we really required.

“We also needed a venue that could give us morning to evening facilitation because we needed the venue all day and also for rehearsals the day before. It was really fantastic to have that available to us.”

At the heart of Coca-Cola HBC and its partner, The Coca-Cola Company, brand lies the concept of spreading happiness, and the team at ICC Belfast made sure to infuse that ethos into every step of event planning. Hall 1 underwent a magical transformation into an après-ski-inspired disco, featuring special performances by guests Sophie Ellis-Bextor and local entertainment act YEOODJ. Working hand in glove with local events management company, Plannd and Rebel Events, the award-winning event management team at ICC Belfast ensured the seamless execution of this day-to-night conference. Events Manager from Plannd, Hannah Jess commented:

Working with the team at ICC Belfast has been great, they have made everything so easy and smooth, from the event side of things with logistics.

"Sean from the production team has been fantastic, he really spent the time with us to make sure on the AV side of things that everything came together to really bring the vision to life."

The Evolve Conference 2024 exemplified Coca-Cola HBC's dedication to creating meaningful experiences and driving positive change. By inviting inspirational keynote speakers, creating interactive zones, and delivering exciting nighttime entertainment, Evolve Conference 2024 encouraged and motivated employees in the most spectacular fashion. Corporate Account Manager at ICC Belfast Ciarán McManus commented on the event:

Corporate clients really focus on creating unique, tailored experiences. Whether it’s a gala dinner, sales kick off, or even a Christmas party and our team pride themselves on always going above and beyond to bring the client’s vision to life.

“Coca-Cola have a saying, ‘Coke Can Do’ when it comes to events, and this showcase proves just what corporate clients can achieve with the right event, the right audience, in the right venue.”

ICC Belfast's values align closely with Coca-Cola HBC and we take pride in collaborating with companies that prioritise their employees, invest in the local community, and demonstrate a strong commitment to corporate responsibility. ICC Belfast’s role as a versatile event venue was instrumental in bringing the conference to life, underscoring the importance of strategic partnerships and innovative solutions in corporate event planning and execution.

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