On Friday 25th November 2011 nearly 300 principals and representatives of Ireland’s top travel companies and travel agencies enjoyed a great night out at the inaugural Irish Travel Industry Christmas Party held at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin, presented by Irish Travel Trade News.
It was a night when everyone was a winner because not only were 34 prizes awarded – 22 Irish Travel Trade Awards, the inaugural Irish Travel Industry Entrepreneur of the Year Award (won by Liam Lonergan of Club Travel), the second Ireland’s Favourite Travel Agent Award (won again by Sunway Travel), the Travel Agent Voter of the Year (Gearoid Lynch of Mallow Travel), and nine Prize Draws of tickets for two to destinations worldwide – but also the event’s headline sponsor, Etihad Airways, presented a €50 voucher on the place settings for “everyone in the audience”.
Alan Sparling of SAS (Scandinavian Airline System) voiced the view of many attendees by saying: “This is an absolutely fabulous evening and is one of the best I have been to – I have met lots of people whom I haven’t seen for a while. Very well done to the organising team.”
The heads of Ireland’s two largest tour operator companies independently complimented the room décor. John Kinane of Thomas Cook Holidays said: “This is a good evening and the room looks really well” while Christine Donnelly of Falcon/Thomson Holidays, said: “I am absolutely amazed by the buzz, the excitement and the great atmosphere that has been created, which shows the resilience of the travel trade. The room is tremendous – it looks really good.”
