Spotlight On Ireland

Tourism Ireland is back to in-person sales missions, kicking off its efforts in Toronto and then heading to western Canada to showcase the island of Ireland to travel agents in Alberta and British Columbia.

A delegation of 15 tourism enterprises from Ireland and 3 Canadian partners are taking part in the targeted sales mission focusing on the cities of Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, and Victoria, highlighting the direct gateways from Canada to Ireland.

The events are designed to help advisors sell Ireland by targeting key consumer passion points of adventure and experiences, ‘craic’ and culture, history and heritage as well as luxury travel via panel discussions by industry experts across the island of Ireland, with partners also connecting with key travel and lifestyle media and influencers at two additional events while in Toronto and Vancouver.

The sales mission is a key strategy in the recovery efforts post-COVID and a valuable opportunity for Tourism Ireland to highlight new and existing offerings on the island of Ireland to the travel trade, ensuring they are enthusiastic and equipped to sell the destination to their clients.

With no travel restrictions, and 96% of 2019 air access restored to the island of Ireland from Canada the future of travel for the destination is strong – and the sales blitz provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate what’s new for 2022 for Canadian clients and encourage them to ‘Press the Green Button’ and book their vacation now!

Sandra Moffatt, Manager, Tourism Ireland, Canada, said: “We are very excited to back in action during this important series of events this week after a two-year break from being able to connect with the travel trade in person. Canadian holidaymakers are highly valued, and our aim is to continue to rebuild visitor numbers from Canada with our extensive program of high impact campaigns and promotions. Our sales mission across Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta this week provides an excellent platform to meet with, and educate, agents as well as kickstart our promotional efforts highlighting the many great things to see and do around the island of Ireland, as well as the warm Irish welcome and hospitality the country is so well known for.”

Moffatt continued: “Ireland is open for business, and we cannot wait to welcome Canadians back to the Emerald Isle. We are looking forward to getting out to meet the travel trade this week and thank them for helping to play such an important role in helping us to drive visitor numbers to Ireland.

Caption for Photo

Seen here, from l to r, are  Claire O’Kane, Mussenden Sea Salt, Dermot O’Neill, Moloney & Kelly, Isabelle Pennec, OPW, Michelle Maguire, Ireland’s Blue Book, Alison Deegan, Original Irish Hotels, Sibhan Byrne Learat, Adams & Butler, Lauren Lamonday, Tourism Ireland, Sandra Moffatt, Tourism Ireland, Ambassador of Ireland to Canada, Dr. Eamonn McKee, Marie Chawke, Dromoland Castle, Georgina Caraher, Experience Gaelic Games, Paula Curtin Svadlena, Aer Lingus, Eimear Lafferty, Titanic Belfast, Aine McLoughlin, Aran Island Ferries, Gerry Ginty, Powerscourt Distiller,  Karen O’Conner, B&B Ireland, Cormac O’Donnchu, Experience Gaelic games, David Cleary, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Eammon McEneaney, Waterford Treasures