Cork Takes Centre Stage as 2015 Autumn Sales Blitz Continues

22nd September 2014

Irish tourism businesses meeting with top overseas travel buyers

The second in a series of targeted 2015 sales drive of international tourism workshops took place today in the Silver Springs Hotel, Cork, hosted by Fáilte Ireland. Today’s workshop focused on the British coach tour sector, with Irish tourism businesses from across the country pitching directly to agents from the British market

The workshop saw 86 Irish tourism trade meet with 18 GB Coach and Group Operators who were very keen to develop business contacts and business relationships with Ireland. The operators were from many locations within the UK and it was seen as a great opportunity and very cost effective means for the Industry to meet the Operators.
Speaking today, Martina Bromley Head of Sales with Fáilte Ireland stressed the importance of hosting events like these and the benefits for the Irish trade involved –

“We are delighted to welcome these important GB Coach and Group Operators to our shore as they plan their 2015 packages. These overseas agents have the capacity to deliver significant amounts of visitors to Ireland and their presence here is testimony to our enduring strong appeal as a destination and the variety and attractiveness of the Irish holiday. Hopefully the deals made over the next few weeks will assist ongoing growth in tourism in Ireland for 2015.”

To further showcase what Ireland can truly offer, Fáilte Ireland also put together a specially crafted tailor-made itinerary for the travel agents to get out and about, to learn first-hand more about the country, and really get an authentic taste of what an Irish holiday can offer.

Following their arrival on Thursday the travel agents took a whistle stop tour of Cork City, followed by a visit to Muckross traditional farm and house and gardens in Killarney before jumping on board The Star of Kenmare Wildlife cruise to explore all Kenmare Bay has to offer and onwards to Glengarriff and a visit to the Ewe Experience and Mizen Head Signal Station. Overnighting in the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery the group headed to Clonakilty and a visit to the Michael Collins Centre, and the Timoleague Abbey, followed by a tour of the Charles Fort and Desmond Castle. The group were thrilled to see some of the All-Ireland in a local establishment in historic Kinsale, before finishing up in Martin Shanahan’s Fishy, Fishy restaurant.

These trips provide a great opportunity for overseas operators to experience first-hand the full-on Ireland experience and can play a key role in closing the deal and persuading these agents to choose Ireland as a holiday destination for their customers.

“We are delighted to welcome these important Canadian travel agents to our shores as they plan their 2015 packages. These overseas agents have the capacity to deliver significant amounts of visitors to Ireland and their presence here is testimony to our enduring strong appeal as a destination and the variety and attractiveness of the Irish holiday. Hopefully the deals made over the next few weeks will assist ongoing growth in tourism in Dublin for 2015.”

The British Coach Tour Operators Workshop will be followed by a New Markets Workshop (October 16th) and the North American Expo (October 21st).

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