This morning, 66 Travel Counsellors, joined by 12 Head Office staff, travelled from all over the country to the Sunny Southeast to meet for the 19th annual conference, in the stunning Lyrath Estate Hotel, Kilkenny.
This years theme is ‘One Team‘ and the conference is supported by fifty-five travel brands, ranging from cruise lines, airlines, tourist boards, hotel groups, DMCs, Car Hire Companies, Specialist Tour Operators, Attraction and Insurance Providers and everything in between. The excitement of the annual meet up was palpable as TCs and suppliers reconnected in the hotel lobby.
After brief catch ups and brand-new headshots, delegates made their way into Yew Restaurant for a wonderful lunch sponsored by Celebrity Cruises. Valerie Murphy, is joined at the conference this week, by her UK-based colleague, Michael Young Richards who expressed his deep gratitude for the support from the Irish Travel Counsellors.
This afternoon, the Business Sessions took place in the McCurdy Suite, where Bernie Whelan welcomed everyone to the 2024 Conference and acknowledged and thanked their Headline Sponsors – Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and MSC Cruises – as well as their Premium Sponsors – Azamara, JetBlue, Melia Hotels, A Tent With A View, Ponant and G Adventures.
In the last 12 months, Travel Counsellors Ireland has welcomed nine new Travel Counsellors to the TC family – Linda Tiernan, John Appleby, Aminah Carty, Catherine Lyons, Emma Campbell, Miriam Kelliher, Karen Reid, Emma Dowling and Dee Haugh. Cathy Burke, General Manager Ireland, also congratulated Niamh Quinlan, Dairine McGarrity, Ian Walsh, Brenda Muray-Flynn and Rachael Higgins on their respective 15th anniversaries.
More great news followed when Cathy announced that 25% of Irish Travel Counsellors are now Gold TCs, which is a huge achievement, and 19 Irish TCs are in the top 200 of the 2075 Travel Counsellors globally!
New TC, Michael Kelly, hit Gold status this year after joining the business in August 2022 and his gold status is shared with Maeve Doherty, who joined in 2014, Andre Bedford, who has been a TC since 2012 and finally Catherine Maguire who has been part of Travel Counsellors since 2006.
Travel Counsellors Ireland surpassed their ambitious target in the last 12 months, and Cathy Burke jokingly remarked that they will have their work cut out for them in 2025 with even bigger targets!
Travel Counsellors Ireland also achieved some big milestones having the highest average gross earnings of TCs worldwide, the highest use of Phenix (TCs internal booking system) sitting at 70%, highest average gross sales and the highest percentage of Gold TCs.
Focuses for the coming 12 months include advancement in technology, a focus on sustainability and sustainable travel, and an even bigger focus on their community including Family Fun Days, Corporate Events, TC On Tour and trainings.
In attendance today is Travel Counsellors CEO, Steve Byrne, who gave a rousing speech, praising the hard work of the Irish Travel Counsellors and reiterating the importance of building on relationships and he finished with a wonderful quote “We sell a relationship, not travel.”
This evening, we have the ‘Welcome Party’ in The Grill, kindly sponsored by Royal Caribbean. Stay tuned for more on the 2024 Travel Counsellors Conference!
Follow us online for updates this evening, or search the hahstags #OneTeam and #TCConf24
