THEY WERE quite impressed with Stormont Castle, they really enjoyed the extremely posh black-tie dinner at Hillsborough Castle, but what did the Americans really think of the investment conference?
That, like the Americans themselves, was mainly under wraps, in keeping with the overall low-key, publicity-shy approach adopted throughout the conference.
It is not they did not have a view on the conference – they just did not want to say on the record what they thought.
A few who were checking out yesterday of the five-star Culloden Hotel in Holywood did not want to be named, but they said Northern Ireland was a location they would now think about.
“It was a good trip, I have positive thoughts about his place,” said another.
“You know the weather was just great, the people we met were terrific and I have got to say that I was impressed.”
When asked if any of them would consider making an investment, they just smiled and declined to answer.
This was, after all, a simple fact-finding exercise for many companies.
There were lots of compliments about Northern Ireland, the place, “your Ministers”, but decisions about investments were not going to be discussed in the lobby of any hotel.
These Americans had received an invitation to attend the conference but it was not their intention to publicise the fact they were in Northern Ireland for 36 hours.
Thursday night’s visit to Hillsborough Castle had been the highlight of the trip on the social front for many of the visiting American business people, particularly those who had never been to the North before.
The allure of a “real” working castle, a stunning marquee, flowing champagne and an emotional address by the North’s First Minister, Ian Paisley, created a night to remember.
Yesterday as the private jets were being refuelled at Belfast International and George Best City Airport, the rain fell softly for the first time in almost three days.
The sunny, warm weather, which had been a constant feature throughout the US:NI Investment Conference, had disappeared and it was time for the Americans to pack up and go home.
The six-million dollar question is whether they would be coming back to Northern Ireland and, if so, next time round would it be as investors?
