DUBLIN - January 19, 2011 - The Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD) announced today that it has been selected as a finalist for the Best Overseas Convention Centre category in Meetings and Incentive Travel (M&IT) Industry Awards 2011.

M&IT magazine readers cast more than 8,300 votes for 19 awards with more than 1,900 organisations nominated. The winners will be revealed at a gala dinner on the 28th of February at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.

“We are delighted and honoured to be named a finalist for this prestigious industry award,” said Nick Waight. “This is a very strong vote of confidence from the industry just four months since opening. We are committed to providing exceptionally high service levels and we are thrilled to have this client endorsement.”

The CCD along with the Bella Center, Copenhagen; the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco and Las Vegas Convention Center are competing for the title of Best Overseas Convention Centre. Three prizes will be awarded under this category – Gold, Silver and Bronze.

The Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, County Wicklow, has also been named a finalist for the Best Overseas Hotel category along with the Fairmont, Monte Carlo; Gran Melia Palacio de Isora, Tenerife and Hotel Arts Barcelona.

BBC TV Presenter Kate Silverton will return as the MC at the awards event, which also raises funds for Save the Children, a charity working to stop the spread of preventable diseases in children worldwide such as pneumonia, malaria, diarrhoea and measles. This year, the target is to raise £40,000 for the charity through sponsorship, ticket sales, donations of money and prizes and an online auction.

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The Convention Centre Dublin

Developed by Treasury Holdings (www.treasuryholdings.com), The Convention Centre Dublin is situated in Spencer Dock on the banks of the River Liffey. Ireland’s first purpose-built international conference and event venue is positioned to become the best convention centre in Europe.  Recognised as the first carbon neutral international convention centre, the venue is configured to accommodate conferences from 8 to 8,000 participants in 22 purpose-built meeting rooms. It includes a 2,000-seat auditorium, 4,500 square metres of exhibition space and banqueting facilities for up to 3,000 guests. The centre combines flexible and elegant conference halls and meeting spaces with an experienced management team and an extensive range of support services. Offering the latest technology, this sophisticated venue includes advanced audio-visual equipment and lighting systems as well as Wi-Fi enabled halls and meeting rooms. For more information, please visit www.theccd.ie.