Aer Lingus and Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation (CVC) invited travel trade and media to a special event to celebrate the upcoming launch of this exciting new route. Starting on 12 April, Aer Lingus will launch the first-ever non-stop flight between Dublin and Nashville operating four times a week.
The music event was held Upstairs at Whelan’s and provided an evening of world-class calibre, Nashville-style music along with themed food. The entertainment was astounding.
Deana Ivey, President and CEO of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation (find out more at www.visitmusiccity.com), thanked attendees as well as partners and sponsors of the evening including Aer Lingus, Tennessee Tourism.
Deana thanked Aer Lingus and Tennessee tourism for their sponsorship of tonight and partnership of tonight and highlighted a few key contacts from Nashville CVC for the Irish travel market:
- Laurel Bennett – Senior Vice President, Tourism Sales at Nashville CVC – Deana highlighted that Laurel was a key contact for the trade;
- Heather Walter Middleton – Chief Marketing Officer, Nashville CVC;
- David Spencer – VP, Events at Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation; abd
- Hills Balfour represents Nashville and their Senior Account Director, Tryphavana Cross, represents the destination in Ireland.
Deana introduced Nashville partners at the event including:
Kristi Driver, Senior Tourism Sales Manager from Opry Entertainment
2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry, the world’s longest-running radio show, which first aired in 1925. Over the decades, the Opry has hosted iconic artists like Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Willie Nelson, and continues to shape the future of country music. This year, music lovers will have the opportunity to witness both legendary stars and rising talent on its iconic stage.
A highlight of the centennial year will be Ringo Starr’s debut performance at the Opry on 21 February. Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers says, “What an honor that after all the extraordinary music he has made and all the incredible history he’s been a part of Ringo Starr will be making his Opry debut during this, the Opry’s milestone 100th year. It’s going to be a night like no other.
Dana Romanello, Director of Museum Sales, Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, located in downtown Nashville, has been called the “Smithsonian of country music,” with 350,000 sqft of exhibition galleries, archival storage, retail stores, and event space. In addition, the Museum offers the Taylor Swift Education Center for students, teachers, and families, and dedicated performance spaces in the CMA Theater and Ford Theater, both of which regularly host nationally recognized live music and cultural events.
Bobby Nashville & Westin Nashville Hotels
Deana welcomed Julie Garziola, Corporate Director of Sales at Castlerock Asset Management, which owns Bobby Nashville, Oak Steakhouse and the Westin Nashville.
Described as a boutique hotel by Deana, centrally located in Nashville’s Arts District and on historic Printer’s Alley, Bobby Nashville is just steps away from the bustle of Broadway’s music scene yet far enough away to get some shut-eye.
From music and culture to food and shopping, there is plenty to do and see just steps from The Westin Nashville. Ideally located near Broadway in the city’s downtown district, this Nashville, TN, hotel connects guests with iconic Nashville attractions like Music City Center and Music Row.
Jenny Rafter – Aer Lingus
Jenny Rafter from Aer Lingus extended her thanks to all who attended. Speaking about the new route, she shared “We are launching this direct service from Dublin to Nashville in less than four weeks. We start our inaugural flight on the 12th of April operating on a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday on our Airbus XLR aircraft.
The Airbus XLR is more environmentally friendly with 20% less fuel burn. There are 16 seats in the business cabin and 168 in economy. The service is going to be operating pretty much all year round. And for those music lovers – a direct service into the home of country music. So we’re super excited about this route.”
Jodi Hanson, Tennessee Tourism (UK & Ireland)
Jodi Hanson, Tennessee Tourism explained, “The flight is transformational for our connectivity across Europe and solidifies Tennessee’s growth as a premier global destination. And our goal is to reach $1 billion in international spending throughout Tennessee in 2025. The US was Ireland’s number one long-haul destination in 2023 and Tennessee is now 15th for Irish Travellers and that’s even without the direct service.”
“So with internationally beloved brands, like Dolly [Parton], Elvis and Jack [Daniels] plus the island’s love of music, food and whisky. We truly think that the flight is going to make a huge success. This is now the third non-stop flight to Europe, a testament to the strength of our partners… who worked to make Tennessee a global destination of choice.”
Jodi thanked Amy Seigenthaler Pierce, Honorary Consul in Tennessee, who she explained, was instrumental in securing this direct service
In 2024, the Consulate General of Ireland in Atlanta, representing Ireland in the US Southeast, announced the appointment of Ms. Amy Seigenthaler Pierce as Ireland’s first Honorary Consul in Tennessee, based in Nashville. At the time, Ireland was the sixth biggest source of foreign direct investment into Tennessee with Irish investment in Tennessee supporting c.8,000 jobs in the state. Ms. Seigenthaler Pierce is both a proud Tennessean and a proud Irish-American who maintains strong links to Ireland.
Nashville Prize at the Event – Danielle Anderson, Northern Irish News
Danielle Anderson, Northern Irish News, won two tickets to Nashville with Aer Lingus, a stay at the Bobby Hotel, Grand Ole Opry tickets and attraction passes which gives entry to the multitude of museums in Nashville including the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Johnny Cash Museum, National African-American Museum, Grand Ole Opry Museum, Patsy Cline Museum and more as “Nashville has more music museums than anywhere in the world”! Certainly sounds like my kind of place. For details on all the museums in Nashville, check out – Visit Music City. Also part of the package was a Mint Julep Experiences Nashville tour which offers uniquely curated public and custom tours and experiences. They even have an Irish connection.
Mint Julep Experiences Nashville offer tours such as Murals & Margaritas, Hot Chicken & Whiskey Food and even a Jack Daniel’s Tour. If you have been in the travel industry for as long as me, you might recall Gary Bryne (formerly Sunway and TopFlight). He is Global Tour & Experience Director – Ireland for Mint Julep Experiences.
The World-Class Line Up of Entertainment
Welcomed to the stage were acclaimed music “PowerHouse songwriter, Jessi Alexander and Grammy CMA and ACM award-winning songwriter, producer and musician, John Randall. Described as “these two are not only great, they’re so sweet, such nice people, they’re also married”, the pair captivated the audience for the astounding set. If this isn’t an ideal advertisement of why we need (not just want) to go to Nashville, nothing will get you there.
Jessi Alexander is a 4-time Grammy Award nominee and has penned 10 No. 1 hits including “I Drive Your Truck” recorded by Lee Brice which won Song of the Year from 2013 CMA Awards, 2014 ACM Awards and 2013 NSAI Awards and “The Climb” recorded by Miley Cyrus.
Jon Randall is a Grammy, CMA and ACM award-winner, songwriter, guitarist and producer. His songs have been recorded by Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Little Big Town, Kenney Chesney, Reba McEntire & more. Randall Won SMA Song of the Year for “Whiskey Lullaby” by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss and the ACM Song of the Year in 2018 for Lambert’s “Tin Man”.
John Randall spoke to the crowd, “Thank you so much for having us both, jet lagged but the Guinness will get us through, right? All right, I’ll kick us off with the pretty much the only fun song I’ve ever written”. And it was over all too fast. I could have stayed for endless hours listening to every song. The Nashville events are always something really, truly special and if it’s any indication of the energy, culture and talent of Tennessee, this new route will be fantastic.
