A conference discussing Irish manufacturing and supply chain issues has been forced to change venues after the intended hotel was mass booked for Ukrainian refugees.
The National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Exhibition and Conference 2022 is set to go ahead in Dublin on May 25th and 26th of this year.
The event’s planned themes will include robotics & automation, blockchain technologies, supply chain and logistics issues, and more.
However, while the conference was initially set to be held at Citywest Hotel, the venue has now been moved to accommodate Ukrainian refugees.
“Due to the continuing crisis in the Ukraine, and the expected increase in refugees fleeing the conflict, the National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition will be relocated to the RDS Simmonscourt,” an email said to attendees.
“Citywest will become one of the key registration centres in Ireland assisting in housing families. As the show organiser, we believe the manufacturing and supply chain community would fully support this decision to make a positive contribution to the terrible trauma inflicted on the citizens of Ukraine.”
One source told Gript that the move would cause logistical problems for attendees.
“Obviously loads of people had booked hotels in and around Citywest so now have to try and rebook in town,” the source said.
They added that it was “a pain in the arse” to try and get attendees from anywhere outside Dublin to go to the RDS rather than Citywest.
As hotels have been block booked for Ukrainian refugees across Ireland, hoteliers have warned that the current compensation from the government is insufficient and will severely hamper the hotel industry financially coming into the summer – particularly following lockdown.
Reportedly, the government is currently offering hotels the winter rate for rooms, which is €25 to €30 less than the summer rate.