A high-level group has been established in a drive to win a greater share of the international market for business conferences, trade shows and conventions.
Failte Ireland said the nine-person group called the Business Travel Forum is chaired by former Jurys Doyle managing director Mr Peter Malone.
Mr Malone currently holds a number of high-profile chairmanships, including the National Roads Authority, Hibernian Insurance and CB Richard Ellis Gunne Auctioneers.
Failte Ireland's chairwoman, Ms Bowler said a national conference centre would be central to atrtacting the business travel market in the future.
In 2002, there were 121,000 overseas visitors attending conferences and meetings in Ireland. Of these, an estimated 44,000 were attending Association Conferences, from professions like finance, insurance, healthcare, media and IT.
The US, Spain, Britain, France and Italy are the leading international conference destinations. Ireland is ranked 36th. Another 25,000 overseas visitors annually come to Ireland for work-related travel including activity holidays and sightseeing.
Ms Bowler said that growing market share in the business travel sector would be dependent on Ireland's ability to differentiate itself as a safe destination with strong cultural characteristics, environmental qualities and excellence in service and product.
"Besides the lack of a national conference centre we have had to contend with the small average size of hotels and shortage of large-scale banqueting facilities.
"The industry, with our support has invested heavily in developing these facilities, both in Dublin and in other regional conference destinations. This will continue under the guidance of the Business Tourism Forum", she said.
The full membership of the Forum is: Mr Peter Malone, Mr Brian McColgan Managing Director, Abbey Tours, Mr Ray Carroll, chief executive of the K Club, Ms Anne Wold-Graham director of TG&A International, Mr John Power chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation, Mr Jim Deegan of the national centre for Tourism Policy Studies, University of Limerick, Mr Dan Flinter, former chief executive of Enterprise Ireland, Mr Paul Keeley director of marketing, Fáilte Ireland and Mr John Rafferty head of product marketing, Fáilte Ireland.