Lord Mayor's Address

The Lord Mayor Hon. Member Alderman Brian Kingston pictured centre left with President Ivan and President Elect Rosemary Simpson addressed the Club Monday 20 February 2017 noting that he had been born and reared in Belfast and that it was his greatest honour to be Lord Mayor after 7 years on Council, particularly at these great times for Belfast city with the economy, employment and tourism growing and the creative industries and new economies flourishing.

His presentation pointed out that:

• there will shortly be a 3rd film studio
• the Bullitt Hotel opened last year and there are 6 others under construction providing 1000 extra beds with another one in planning
• in 1992 2 cruise ships visited now there is one virtually every day in the summer, last year 83 came bringing 145,000 visitors and with over 90 planned in 2017 Belfast overtakes Liverpool and Cork
• the visitor centre was voted as a world's outstanding tourist attraction
• business tourism is expanding, 73 conferences were held last year, the new Conference centre has space for 5000 delegates and recently held a dinner for 1000 people
• international sporting activities are also escalating with 4 major events to be held this year in field hockey, ice hockey, UEFA Women's under 19 and the Women's Rugby
• world Cup in conjunction with Dublin
• Deloitte's inaugural Belfast Crane Survey published last week showed physical development across the city was on an upward trajectory with, at the time of the 'snapshot', 19 cranes in building works for UU student accommodation, grade A office space and hotels.

He acknowledged the current political turmoil with Brexit, Trump and local collapse but stressed that the council were working together for the good of the city and had published a draft 10 year strategy. He advised that personally he had many highlights and had had 3 priorities: inclusive growth of economy; increase international connections and in this context he was pleased to see the visits and tourists from the sister cities Boston, Nashville and Shenyang; and recognise those making Belfast a compassionate and caring city noting that Rotary was one of those organisations.

Concluding that visitors are overwhelmingly positive and find Belfast easy to get around; he stated he had learnt a lot and commending the Club's TABU programme he acknowledged the work of Rotary and that it was good to see the Club so active. President Ivan congratulated him on his year and all the exciting activity in the city.