A strong line up of speakers has been announced for the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation’s annual conference on September 18, which takes place in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone, Co Westmeath.
The conference – Big Impact, Small Footprint – will be moderated by broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald who will speak with Minister Catherine Martin to discuss Government’s tourism policies and priorities.
Special Advisor to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Anita Mendiratta will talk global tourism shifting trends, and the Late Late Show’s new host Patrick Kielty will discuss the transformative power of tourism as a force for good.
ITIC Chair Elaina Fitzgerald Kane will launch Vision 2030: An industry Strategy for Tourism Growth and Dearbhail McDonald will be in conversation with former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement and how tourism was chosen as an all-island sector.
Economist Jim Power, iNua’s Sean O’Driscoll and Tourism Ireland’s Siobhan McManamy will be on panels while sustainability will be central to the conference with contributions from Paul Kelly of Fáilte Ireland and Geraldine Enright from the Cliffs of Moher.
There will be a Special Recognition Award for an Irish tourism hero and the conference is generously supported by Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, AIB and Westmeath County Council.
The Irish tourism conference of the year takes place at 10am on September 18 in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Athlone.
