News

Canada Sales Mission

Tourism Ireland, together with a delegation of 19 tourism companies from Ireland and Canada, is undertaking a four-city sales tour in Canada this week, meeting with more than 300 Canadian travel agents in the cities of Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria.

Pictured are Sandra Moffatt, Tourism Ireland; Michelle Maguire, Ireland’s Blue Book; Marie Chawke, Dromoland Castle; Dermot O'Neill, Moloney & Kelly; Karen O’Connor, B&B Ireland; Aine Mcloughlin, Aran Island Ferries; HE Eamonn McKee, Irish Ambassador to Canada; and Siobhan Byrne Learat, Adams & Butler.

The sales mission involves a workshop in each city, where the participating tourism companies from Ireland have the opportunity to network with, and sell to, influential Canadian travel professionals – informing them about the many things to see and do on a holiday in Ireland. The delegation will also meet influential travel journalists and bloggers at two media events in Toronto and Vancouver.

Mask Mandate To End

The mask mandate for passengers on board European flights and in airports is being dropped from next Monday.

However, mask rules will vary by airline, particularly on flights to or from a destination where mask-wearing is still required on public transport, and vulnerable passengers should continue to wear a face mask, authorities have advised.

It follows the issuing of a new update to the health and safety measures for air travel by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). They noted that while a face mask is still one of the best protections against the transmission of Covid-19, the recommendation for the mandatory wearing of medical masks in airports and on board a flight is being dropped from May 16.

The update of the joint Aviation Health Safety Protocol takes account of the latest developments in the pandemic, in particular the levels of vaccination and naturally-acquired immunity, and the accompanying lifting of restrictions in more European countries, they said.

Farmer Couple Hook Up in Galway

Images of Galway and Connemara were beamed into the homes of around 3.2 million people in the Netherlands when an episode of a reality TV dating show aired on NPO 1, the oldest national TV channel in the Netherlands.

Contestants Annette Verschuure and Hans De Roover during filming for their "dream date" at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel in Clifden. Also pictured are cameraman Ingmar Kooper (left); producer Lynette Hartsink (second left); reporter Patricia Brok (third left); and sound operator Maarten Ruijssenaars (right).

A TV crew – filming for the special Galway episode of one of the most popular TV programmes in the Netherlands, called Boer zoekt Vrouw (meaning "The Farmer Wants a Wife") – was in Ireland last November as guests of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.

Irish Start-Up Makes ‘Accelerator’ Programme

Irish founded start-up Wayleadr is one of five companies to be accepted into the Sodexo UK and Ireland Accelerators programme in partnership with innovation specialist L Marks.

Wayleadr, the solo Irish company to make the cut, will now take part in a 10-week programme to road-test its proposition as part of Sodexo's aim to collaborate with start-ups in developing innovative new solutions in the areas of smart buildings, employee experience and sustainability. The software as a service start-up reimagines the last mile of commuter journeys by connecting smart buildings with smart vehicles, saving time, rightsizing real estate spend and curbing carbon emissions.

Over 400 start-ups applied to the progamme launched in January 2022, and Wayleadr was one of 21 selected to pitch their business propositions to Sodexo at live events in London and Dublin.

Hotel Dispute Settled

A dispute over plans to develop a €25 million hotel in Dublin’s James Street has been resolved. The site lies on a stepped lane called Cromwell’s Quarters joining James Street to Bow Lane West.

Tathony Holdings, the owners of Tathony House, which is on the lane, first brought High Court proceedings in 2018 claiming a planned new hotel would interfere with its light. Those proceedings, which were against the previous owners, were settled.

The site was then sold to a company called Amhola James Street Ltd, which plans to develop an international hotel at a cost of €25 million. Amhola submitted a new planning application which was refused by Dublin City Council.