News

Ireland at Orlando show

Tourism Ireland is attending the USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association) Annual Conference & Marketplace in Orlando, Florida, this week. orlando1219

Pictured are Debbie Moran, Fáilte Ireland; Colin Wynne, Abbey Ireland & UK; and Virginia Goff, Tourism Ireland, at the USTOA Annual Conference & Marketplace in Orlando.

The conference is an important event in the annual travel calendar, bringing together leading North American travel professionals with destinations and suppliers from around the world. The event involves five busy days of one-to-one appointments and networking workshops – and is a valuable opportunity for Tourism Ireland to meet with influential American tour operators.

Cork Honours Conference Ambassadors

Conference ambassadors who helped generate €10m for Cork’s economy this year have been honoured amid renewed calls for delivery of the city’s long-awaited events centre. cork1119

The Cork Convention Bureau (CCB), a public-private partnership which promotes the region as a destination for business tourism, meetings, and conferences, said the delivery of the 6,000-capacity venue on South Main St could see the city treble the value of business it could generate annually.

CCB chairman Seamus Heaney made his comments as the CCB paid tribute to 36 ambassadors at its annual Cork Conference Ambassadors programme awards.

Sodexo wins French award

Sodexo has won the Best French Company in Ireland Award for the second year in a row at the 27th Annual Ireland-France Business Awards, jointly organised by the France sodexo1219

Ireland Chamber of Commerce in Dublin (FICC) and NetworkIrlande.

This year’s Awards were held at the prestigious Cercle National des Armees in Paris on Thursday 28 November, in front of an audience of 180 Irish and French business leaders. Mr Pat Breen, Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Market and Data Protection presented the Best French Company Award to Caroline O’Loughlin, finance director, Sodexo Ireland, who accepted on behalf of the company and pictured with H.E. Stéphane Crouzat, Ambassador of France to Ireland and Margot Slattery, global chief diversity & inclusion officer, Sodexo and the incoming president of the France-Ireland Chamber of Commerce.

More flights-fewer seats from Dublin

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Dublin Airport will have 15 new services this winter but has reported total seat capacity is down 3% with 500,000 fewer seats available compared to last year.

DAA sys that this is the first winter since 2011 that has seen an overall a reduction in seat capacity at the airport and suggested the decline is due to factors such as some airlines withdrawing services for the winter while others have maintained their route network but have reduced the number of flights operating the service.

The company also said that while Ryanair is growing its business at Dublin this winter, the delivery delay to the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft has affected its growth plans.

Council clears Dublin Whitewater attraction

Dublin City councillors have given permission to construct a new €22m white water course in Dublin. whitewater1219

Representatives of Dublin City Council voted in favour last night on the proposed site at George's Dock on the North Quays, beside the IFSC. The motion passed by 37 votes to 19.

The €22m facility includes a simulated white water slalom course and flat pool that can be used for rafting, kayaking and canoeing.

It is intended to be a major tourist attraction, but will also be used as a water rescue training facility for Dublin Fire Brigade and visiting firefighters.