When the Society Offices Association Management Company PCO was appointed to host The International Joint Conference on Neural Network (IJCNN) in Ireland in 2015, they were met with some significant challenges that needed to be solved immediately. Could they cover the breadth of meetings required in only one location, delivering a world-class event within budget? The result was a resounding yes!

Director Marianne Van Wagner explained the particular set of challenges they were faced with:  “As a non-profit organisation for scientists, budget is always a challenge. The challenge was to find a location at an affordable price with plenty of meeting space and break-outs. Additionally, with so many meetings, the location had to have a ‘wow’ factor in order to be competitive.”

With support from the Meet in Ireland team, the venue was secured. The Killarney Convention Centre ticked all the boxes in fulfilling the clients’ needs, delivering that ‘wow’ factor and providing plenty of meeting spaces and break-out areas for delegates.

Located in the picturesque kingdom of Co. Kerry, Killarney is a vibrant town with tourism at its heart. A bustling hub, it has a varied choice in fine eateries and luxury accommodation.

There were other major accomplishments to note too. IJCNN 2015 achieved an increase of 30% in registered delegates over its previous meeting, with a total attendance of 650 delegates. The conference was also financially successful and therefore contributed to the financial sustainability of the association, the International Neural Network Society.

The conference venue’s facilities and location made for a very positive delegate experience and left an indelible mark on those who attended. The participants were delighted to spend time in Killarney and many took the opportunity to bring their families and extend their stay both pre and post conference, exploring the Kingdom of Kerry and other regions of Ireland.

The event was endorsed by all delegates as a resounding success, with PCO Director Marianne Van Wagner succinctly summing up the experience: “I loved Ireland and I can’t wait to return!”