The Travel Counsellors Ireland annual conference kicked off at the Fota Island Resort in Cork last Thursday night with sponsors Dubai Tourism, Emirates and Kerzner International Resorts bringing Arabian flavours to the evening – and two Travel Counsellors won places on a TC-exclusive fam trip next September.
Welcoming the 110 conference delegates, TC Chairman David Speakman said: “We are totally out of step with the UK and Irish travel industries – and we are proud of that! We do things that others don’t.”
Ingrid Aagesen, Senior Manager for the Government of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “Dubai had a phenomenal year from the Irish market in 2012, with Irish visitors increasing by 36% and with the average length of stay increasing to six nights. This shows that our focused message of affordability, family and culture is getting across – and this will continue in 2013.
Lee Barker, Account Director – Leisure Sales of Kerzner International Resorts, followed the TC theme of doing things differently by asserting that: “Nobody operates a hotel like a Kerzner hotel,” while Eileen Penrose, Sales Executive with Emirates Airlines, revealed that a TC-exclusive fam trip to Dubai will be held in September, with five Travel Counsellors being selected from a ‘Challenge’ in June or July.
An additional two places were held for a lucky draw among TCs attending the conference – and the winners were Kathy O’Sullivan and Niamh Quinlan.
