Congratulations from the Irish Travel Trade News team to all at Sunway, who are celebrating their 50th birthday today, 28th April 2016. From its beginnings in 1966 as a family-owned travel agency specialising in corporate and leisure travel, Sunway has become a multi-award-winning leader in the Irish travel industry, selling holidays to over 70 destinations worldwide.
Click Here to Watch Sunway’s 50th Birthday Video
Sunway was founded in 1966 by Roy Beatty. The company then passed to Roy’s daughter, Madeline Kilbride, in 1974 and to his granddaughter, Tanya Airey, in 1998. Tanya’s father, Jim Furlong, has remained Chairman of Sunway since 1974. Tanya’s husband Philip Airey is a Director of the company and her cousin, Brian McGovern, is Financial Director.
Sunway originally opened in Blackrock as a corporate and leisure travel agency, and started tour operations in 1991, with Morocco being its first destination. The company expanded with the opening of Sunway shops throughout Dublin and also through the major development of its corporate and incentive travel business. Sunway, now located in Dun Laoghaire, has always prided itself on bringing the best holiday destinations to the Irish market and is recognised throughout the industry as an authority on all aspects of the travel business.
Over the years industry awards have included Irish Travel Trade Awards for Best Long Haul Tour Operator, Best Specialist Tour Operator and Best Sun Holiday Tour Operator, as voted for by the travel trade. Other Irish Travel Trade Awards include Ireland’s Favourite Travel Agent, Best North America Tour Operator, and Best Agent Friendly Company, as well as the Irish Travel Industry Award for Supplier of the Year, Travelsavers award for Excellence in Customer Support, and Best Travel Agent award from the Blue Insurance Travel Media Awards. Tanya’s personal awards include Image Business Woman of the Year, an Irish Travel Trade Industry Achievement Award, and an Irish Travel Industry Award for her contribution to the Irish travel industry.
Today, Sunway offers the Irish holidaymaker a choice of over 70 destinations worldwide including: Summer and Winter Sun, Worldwide, USA & Canada, Cruise, River Cruise, Sunsail, Neilson, Mark Warner Beach Clubs, Club Med, Escorted Tours, Adventure Tours, Weddings & Honeymoons, and Santa visits in Lapland.
Go Sunway!
