ITTN’s Zoe Walsh attended the final day of the Aer Lingus Taste of America Roadshow 2026 at the Hayfield Manor Hotel in Cork last night, bringing to a close what has been an exciting and fun filled tour celebrating destinations all over America.
The roadshow, hosted by Aer Lingus, brought travel agents and industry partners together for an engaging showcase of destinations across the United States. Over the course of the roadshow, agents heard the latest updates from airline and tourism representatives, picked up new ideas for their clients, and had plenty of opportunities to connect with colleagues. It was a chance to highlight the strength of Aer Lingus’ transatlantic America network while reminding the trade of the wide range of experiences on offer to the Irish travel trade.
The roadshow first took off in Belfast, before travelling to Dublin and on to Limerick, finally landing in Cork for its last stop. The room was filled with agents who have a vast knowledge of destinations all over America.
The roadshow is designed to showcase the very best of the United States to the Irish travel trade, this year’s roadshow featured 26 US destinations, from Pittsburg Sate to North Carolina, Florida and even to Nashville to name a few escapes! There truly is a destination for everyone. Throughout the road show this week agents had the opportunity to meet directly with destination experts, gaining insights into the new flight paths going from Dublin Airport and Shannon Aiport.
A major talking point throughout the evening was the continued expansion of Aer Lingus’ transatlantic network. The announcement of new direct services to Pittsburgh and North Carolina was met with real excitement. These additions further strengthen Ireland’s connection to the United States, offering even more choice and convenience for travellers looking to explore America.
The highlight of the evening came towards the end with the awards and prize draw. Sponsors such as Shannon Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, Tennessee, New York, Seattle, St Pete Clearwater Florida, Miami, Universal, Orlando, Chicago Brand USA and many more contributed to the excitement in the room. Among the prizes were contributions from Shannon, adding an extra layer of excitement!
Karen Crawley from TUI walked away with an amazing prize – the opportunity to choose whether they would like to travel to Boston or New York! The atmosphere in the room was electric with colleagues catching up, networking, and celebrating the incredible year ahead for the Irish travel trade.
A huge congratulations to Ivan and the team over at Aer Lingus for delivering such a fantastic run of events. From Belfast, Dublin, Limerick and Cork, it has been such a successful journey and if the excitement in the room on the final night is anything to go by, the Irish travel trade have plenty to look forward to when it comes to discovering America in the year ahead.
