ITTN’s Katie Doyle and Zoe Walsh covered the International Women’s Day event hosted by the Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) at Opium Botanical Gardens in Dublin and what an amazing evening from start to finish.
The room was filled with strong and inspiring, all coming together to celebrate the importance of supporting one another. The key message of the evening was “Give to Gain” which was focusing on how women in the industry can support each other build connections and help one another grow within the community.
The tables were beautifully set with badges and cards from Women’s Aid which were kindly sponsored by Abercrombie & Kent. It was a thoughtful touch that highlighted an important cause. Each seat also had a small paper suitcase on the table another really lovely detail that everyone loved.
Inside the suitcase was a Barry’s teabag and a chocolate from O’Brien’s Chocolates, in the hopes that people to sit back, relax, and enjoy their well deserved rest at in the evening. It was a thoughtful touch that people really appreciated. Around the room screens had quotes that other people in the room had written about one another.
This being such a nice touch that everyone took such joy and notice to seeing these messages of appreciation was such a lovely addition to the night and everyone could really feel the supportive atmosphere in the room. It was clear that everyone loved reading them and it added something really special to the evening that no one expected.
Throughout the afternoon everyone had the pleasure of music from singer Angel who performed beautifully. Her energy was amazing and by the end of the evening she even had people up dancing which brought joy to everyone in the room.
One of the most memorable moments of the night was a speech from Bernie Burke who spoke about resilience and success. Her speech was emotional honest and incredibly powerful so much so that many people said it gave them goosebumps. You could tell it was really of those moments that will really stick with people for a long time. The afternoon was then followed by an amazing three-course dinner.
A presentation from Patricia speaking on behalf of the Spanish Tourist Board. She shared that over three million visitors travelled from Ireland to Spain last year, showing just how popular the destination continues to be. Patricia focused particularly on the spirit of Madrid highlighting its culture, history, natural surroundings and the warmth of the people who live there.
She also shared her top four places to visit. The first was the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, an incredible artistic and political complex from the time of the Spanish empire. Inside is the famous Laurentian Library, considered one of the best libraries in the world, along with the nearby La Herrería Forest which offers beautiful nature just minutes from the monastery.Her second recommendation was the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, a stunning Renaissance palace located beside the Tagus River and surrounded by historic riverside gardens. The third was the Royal Palace of Madrid, the largest royal palace in Europe that is still in use today.
It also houses the Royal Armoury of Madrid, one of the most complete armoury collections in Europe, along with the peaceful Campo del Moro Gardens located nearby. Her fourth recommendation was the Royal Collections Gallery, which showcases Spain’s royal and historical legacy. It is currently the fourth most visited museum in Madrid, welcoming 741,000 visitors in 2025.
The evening was then followed by some absolutely amazing prizes, which were a huge highlight of the night:
· A trip to Spain including return flights two nights in a 4-star hotel a guided walking tour of Madrid visits to the Royal Palace and El Escorial, and lunch in traditional restaurants won by Trish O’Leary.
· €100 CV Villas voucher won by Maria Hourican
· €500 TUI voucher won by Ann Marie Durkin
· Rituals gift hamper from Viva Cruises won by Laura Pena
· Two tickets to Priscilla won by Keith Browne and Katie Keyes
· Two return tickets to Raleigh from Aer Lingus won by Lorraine Wynne
· Riviera hamper won by Karen Moloney
· Ruby Sue gift bag won by Edel Redmond
· Blue Insurance gift set and Charlotte Tilbury products won by Caroline Quigley
· Dublin Airport fast-track passes, lounge passes and bubbly won by Katrina McMullen
· Two Tipperary Crystal sunglasses from Amadeus won by Bernie Grace and Lorraine Quinnan
AETW also shared some exciting upcoming events :
· April – Tips and techniques for capturing photo and video content with Shane Cullen
· May – Desk Pilates session
· June – Lunchtime session with Nisha Holdstock from Sabre
· June & July – Wellness series including sound baths, cacao ceremony, reiki and hot box sessions
· August – End of summer drinks
There is also currently a special membership offer of €30 to join for the “30 Under 30” which is a great opportunity for anyone in the travel industry to become part of the amazing supportive community and the up coming events.
Overall what an incredibly inspiring and and supportive event and to celebrate achievements and there are plenty more events to come throughout the year.
