Category: Functions
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For more information, please contact tony@visitusa.ie.
Following last November’s Visit USA Ireland Thanksgiving event we are delighted to announce the return of the Visit USA Roadshows which will take place in Dublin and Cork as highlighted below.
26th April 2022 – Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork
27th April 2022 – Iveagh Garden Hotel, Dublin.
This Visit USA Committee Ireland is delighted to host roadshow luncheons for senior managers and product developers this April. The events will take place on 26th April 2022 in Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork and 27th April 2022 in Iveagh Garden Hotel, Dublin.
This year sponsors include Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Florida Keys & Key West, Pure Michigan, Visit Utah and Hertz.
Jenny Rafter (Chairperson Visit USA Committee Ireland) said, ‘The Visit USA Roadshows are a great opportunity for senior representatives from Ireland’s travel trade to connect with US destinations, attractions and other key suppliers”.
For more information, please contact tony@visitusa.ie
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New Deal Europe, the largest travel platform dedicated to the Balkans and South East Europe, is inviting the Irish travel trade to their first ever live event to be held in London on 4th April. New Deal Europe Marketplace and Forum has taken place in a virtual format over the last two years, and attracted 200 buyers and 148 Balkan suppliers to its last event in 2021. Delegates came from 38 countries and over 3,000 appointments were arranged in one day.
The London marketplace in April will be the biggest ever live event in Balkan inbound tourism, and will feature national and regional tourism boards, hotels, attractions, ferry operators and DMCs from twelve Balkan countries. In addition to honeypot destinations such as Greece, Croatia and Slovenia, lesser known destinations such as North Macedona, Serbia and Moldova will also be showcased.
Robert Dee (New Deal Europe Co-founder) said, “We are really excited to be able to hold a live event after having to hold previous events under lockdown conditions. We have had great success so far, with 97% of the Balkan suppliers saying that they thought the standard of buyers was high or very high, unprecedented in my experience of organising events. I think there is a real desire on the part of tour operators to offer more in the region, and with several direct flights from Dublin, we are optimistic that the region will see a growth in Irish tourism in the coming years, and that Ireland will be well represented at the London event”.
‘Tine Murn (New Deal Europe Co-Founder) commented, “Covid has made people re-evaluate what they want from a holiday and the Balkans ticks a lot of boxes. It offers history, gastronomy, culture, a range of activities, and has a sense of the undiscovered and exotic, yet it is right on our doorstep. There is a real focus on sustainable and responsible tourism in the region, and the opportunity to escape the crowds and go off the beaten track, which many people are drawn to right now. We look forward to welcoming many Irish operators and agents to our first live event, where they can make new partnerships and discover all that the region can offer in a series of destination presentations”.
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April 27th sees a key date in the tourism calendar with a flagship conference organised by the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation. The half-day conference will be an in-person event and will take place from 10am on Wednesday April 27th in the Hogan Suite, Croke Park, Dublin 1.
The theme of the conference will be sustainability and competitiveness, the two key pillars for Irish tourism’s recovery following the ravages of the pandemic.
Moderated by broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald the conference will include a number of high profile speakers and promises to be an unmissable event for tourism and hospitality leaders.
The full programme will be released soon and tickets will go on sale but in the meantime please mark the date in your diary.
Categories
Ready Fore Golf with TIGS IN 2022
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After last years bunkered schedule, we are ready to get out of the rough times and drive straight to the fairways in 2022 with The Travel Industry Golf Society.
Here is your new schedule from the longest serving captain in TIGS History, Olwen McKinney, who will now get the opportunity to welcome you all on the TEE in 2022.
Captain Olwen, President Con and the ever-present TIGS Committee (Communist countries have changed their leadership more often at this stage), we’re delighted to announce our event dates for 2022 as follows:
- St. Anne’s Golf Club – Fri, 8th April.
- Tullamore Golf Club – Thurs, 12th May. Sponsors Shannon Airport. Overnight.
- St Margaret’s Golf & Country Club – Thurs, 23rd June. Captain’s Prize.
- Castleknock Golf Club – Fri, 22nd July. Summer BBQ.
- Royal Dublin Golf Club – Tues, 6th Sept. President’s Prize & AGM.
Details of each event will follow as they approach. However, if anyone needs an approximate range of tee times in advance, just pop us an email.
We kick off at St Anne’s GC in April, where the Dublin Bay air and glorious sunshine (hopefully) will help us along a really beautiful links track.
We’re delighted to have Shannon Airport on board once again, for our trip to the fabulous Tullamore GC. This is our planned overnighter for those willing, and it’s hoped a small room allocation will be held in advance for members at the nearby Bridge House Hotel. More info available nearer the time.
PLEASE NOTE: Very reasonable sponsorship opportunities are still available for our other outings. Please contact tigsgolfsociety@gmail.com for more details if you, or any other company that you’re aware of are interested.
Captain Olwen and President Con are delighted to bring us along to their own respective courses for our two Majors this year. Beautiful parkland and spectacular links. Perfecto.
In the middle of that tasty sandwich, we’ll be back to Castleknock GC for another delicious Summer BBQ. A great success last time out.
For obvious reasons, we have agreed to defer the AGM until the end of the season. However, it is hoped that a brief update on current finances etc, will be circulated before our first event. Any queries, just drop us an email at any time.
So, get practicing. We’ll be back in touch next month with the details for St Anne’s, where we hope to continue with the amazing attendance that we achieved at our really special events last year.
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Don Shearer (Travelbiz) reports from Florida Huddle in Tampa.
The message from all of our Florida trade partners to the trade in Ireland is very clear. We are open and more than ready to welcome all of our Irish guests back to the Sunshine state of the USA!
“We never closed and all of our valued stakeholders in Florida are looking forward to providing Irish holidaymakers with an even greater choice of incredible products in Florida”, said Staci Mellman (CMO Visit Florida).
The pure joy of engaging with all of our trade partners, listening to all of their respective destination and product updates was so refreshing as there is a real eagerness to make sure their message is delivered to you, our readers and followers as we see a resurgence in inquiries and bookings for 2022!
Over the coming weeks we shall be bringing you more updates and some really exciting initiatives from our trade partners so stay tuned to Travelbiz.ie.
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Ireland’s largest Travel Trade Shows to take place in Cork and Dublin.
This is the news that we have all be looking forward to! A resumption of true Industry networking with our industry partners. Members of the travel trade can register to attend HERE.
The Irish Travel Agent’s Association (ITAA) are delighted to confirm that the sixth annual Irish Travel Trade Shows are confirmed for this coming April. The first show will take place in The Imperial Hotel, Cork on Wednesday 6th April, and the second in Hotel Riu Plaza, The Gresham Dublin on Thursday 7th April.
The events, organised on behalf of the ITAA by Business Exhibitions Limited, attract over 100 exhibitors from Ireland and abroad, and over 300 travel trade visitors each year made up of licensed travel agents and their staff.
Pat Dawson (CEO ITAA) said, “We are delighted to be able to confirm both of these events for April. Events such as these are an invaluable opportunity for travel agents and tour operators to network with their fellow professionals and discover the latest in travel innovation, product demonstrations and new customer experiences from both Irish and international exhibitors. This is our sixth annual Irish Travel Trade Show in Dublin, and our first show in Cork which will open the show up to travel professionals in the Munster region”.
He continued, “The Irish Travel Trade Shows 2022 will be the first major gathering of travel professionals here in Ireland since early 2020, and we are very much looking forward to meeting old and new friends at these rescheduled events”.
Members of the travel trade can register to attend HERE.
See updates on the Irish Travel Trade Show or to find out more information HERE.
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Business Exhibitions has announced that the annual Holiday Shows will not proceed in 2022.
The Holiday World Shows, which were set to take place in February and March in Dublin, Belfast and Shannon have been rescheduled to January 2023. Having previously deferred the Shows to spring of this year, the organisers, Business Exhibitions Ltd, have now made the difficult decision to reschedule this year’s shows to January 2023.
Maureen Ledwith (Sales Director Holiday World Show) stated, “It is with a very heavy heart that we have made the difficult decision to reschedule this year’s Holiday World Shows. There is still a strong level of uncertainty in holding large events and with the current high levels of COVID-19 infection in Ireland and throughout the world, we as organisers have a duty of care to all our visitors, exhibitors and staff”.
Maria Hourican (CEO Business Exhibitions) said, “We understand this will be a huge disappointment to many of our frequent attendees, exhibitors and partners alike, but on balance we consider rescheduling the events to be the best course of action at this time. We look forward to bringing the Travel Industry together again in 2023”.
Business Exhibitions will proceed with events for 2023 on the following dates:
- Holiday World Show Dublin – 27th/29th January
- Holiday World Show Belfast – 20th/22nd January
- The Holiday Show in association with Shannon Airport – 14th/15th January
- Caravan & Motorhome Shows – Belfast 20th/22nd January and Dublin – 27th/29th January
Pat Dawson (CEO ITAA) said, “The annual Holiday Shows are highlights of the travel trade and press calendars in Ireland. While travel agents are experiencing an upturn in international travel, we fully support the decision to postpone the Holiday Shows till January 2023 when we can come together as an industry once again”.
The Holiday Shows are Ireland’s largest and best attended annual public travel and tourism fairs, featuring exhibitors from home and abroad, and presenting just about every type of holiday experience imaginable. Visitors are also offered a wide range of multicultural entertainment, as well as competitions, attractions and special show-only offers.