The US Ambassador to Ireland, in conjunction with Brand USA, hosted an exquisite dinner for members of the travel industry in the luxurious surrounds of the United States Ambassador’s home in the Deerfield Residence in Phoenix Park.
The ambassador commended her embassy team who has worked extensively with the Irish travel industry and highlighted that 2024 marks a century of US-Irish diplomatic relationships. She explained, “I always say when it comes to Ireland and the Irish, you were with us from the start and the United States was one of the first countries to recognise the Irish Free State”.
She added, “With celebrating 100 years this year, we’re doing everything we can to increase the United States – Irish relationship, which is actually not a hard sell. It makes my job easier than most.”.
She heartedly welcomed the two dozen guests and highlighted her wish for the embassy to work with the trade going forward. Leaders in the industry and members of travel media attended for a sumptuous meal and round table discussion on travel to the United States of America.
Jackie Ennis (Vice President, Global Markets, Brand USA), thanked the attendees for their support and efforts to promote and encourage travel to the United States.
The discussion touched on topical points such as the passenger cap in Dublin Airport which hampers inbound and outbound growth plans and risks routes and connectivity for our peripheral island nation.
The embassy and Brand USA view fostering a close relationship with the travel trade as a way to work together and learn from one another. The aim is not just to encourage outbound travel to the United States but to inspire travel across the length and breadth of the US, that it is not just New York and Florida but also, the lesser-known travel destinations.
United States of America
From my perspective, there are first-time visitors to the likes of New York where you visit the big attractions for a long weekend and indulge in sights, shows, shopping and a city food scene. However, New York and indeed, Florida are not one-time things.
In New York, for example, you can go back time and time again and venture further afield, explore the 5 boroughs and find the lesser-known gems. I’ve returned time again and no two visits have ever been the same. Yes, it can be expensive but planning (with the help of a travel agent & tourist board tips) gives great value such as 2 for 1 during Broadway Week, a CityPass which gives access to multiple big sights or strolling the city from Central Park to the Brooklyn Bridge (for free), grabbing a slice of pizza or cheesecake and embracing the atmosphere.
Equally, a long weekend can be a fortnight holiday. Take a car and head to Upstate New York or Boston with little havens along the way. Head to the historic sights of Philadelphia and carry on through New Jersey from the bustle and lights of Atlantic City to the vineyards of Cape May.
Travel within the US (which is a colossal 140 times larger than Ireland) means twinning a holiday with another destination hundreds of miles away makes for some epic adventures and provides an opportunity to discover the real America.
There are the usual suspects like Miami, Chicago and Washington DC (all of which were fantastic and would warrant another adventure) but equally, the lesser likely destinations have delighted me too – the ranches of Fort Worth, the barbeque scene in Dallas and the music of SXSW in Austin. Texas alone is ten times the size of Ireland.
As Jenny Rafter highlighted, Aer Lingus will have 18 US destinations with Denver, Colorado and Minneapolis Salt Lake City adding to the schedule. United Airlines, American Airlines, jetBlue and Delta all add to the connectivity that has never offered consumers a broader choice with regards to travelling stateside.
Our rainy little country and our long history of leaving our shores for new destinations and the US has so much to offer, so much diversity, culture, history and energy, epic cities and countryside in terms of the great outdoors, in a lifetime, I couldn’t hope to see it all. I’ll keep trying.
