John Spollen, Director, Cassidy Travel, Dublin, was elected President of the Irish Travel Agents Association at the Association’s AGM, which took place as part of the Irish Travel Trade Show in Dublin.
John Spollen is one of Ireland’s leading travel experts and a long-time activist within the ITAA. As a director and shareholder of Cassidy Travel, which has been in business 32 years, John is responsible for Marketing Strategy and Direction. He believes in the continued role of the travel agent within the travel trade, based on their ability to invest, adapt and deliver cost-effective solutions to clients.
Des Abbott, Des Abbott Travel, Dublin, was re-elected as Treasurer.
Other appointments to the ITAA Board were:
- Pearse Keller, Keller Travel, Ballinsaloe
- Martin Skelly, Navan Travel, Navan
- Clare Dunne, The Travel Broker, Dublin
- Valerie Metcalfe, FCM, Dublin
- Paul Hackett, ClickandGo.com
- Joe Tully, Tullys Travel, Carlow
- Angela Walsh, Corporate Travel Management, Cork
- Pearse Keller.Keller Travel,Ballinasloe,Galway
John Spollen said: “I am honoured to be elected as the President of the ITAA. In taking up this position I believe that I can continue to grow the ITAA, by bringing more top-level travel agents into the fold and developing the credibility and reputation of the Irish travel industry.
“The continued success of our industry has been down to travel agents’ collective ability to evolve and meet the changing market place. There are a number of challenges facing us over the next two years, including GDPR, the EU Package Holiday Directive, and, of course, Brexit. However, there are also big opportunities for the travel trade as more destinations and products come on stream, the economy continues to grow, and consumers take more and more holidays each year.”
The RDS was the venue for the Irish Travel Trade Show. This one-day event is the official trade show of the ITAA and Ireland’s largest ever travel trade show with over 120 exhibitors from some of the world’s best-known and most exciting travel brands.
The Spanish and Costa Daurada tourist boards were the sponsors of the lunch and Spanish regions’ hotels and attractions were prominent exhibitors at the show.
Teresa Gancedo, Director, Spanish Tourist Office in Ireland, thanked outgoing ITAA President Cormac Meehan, for the wonderful co-operation between the ITAA and the STO during his term of office. Teresa wished Incoming President John Spollen every success in his new position. Responding, John Spollen thanked Spain for their continued support to the Irish travel trade.
Paula Scanlon, Globe Hotels, was the lucky winner of two return tickets to Reus, seven nights in 4-star accommodation in Costa Daurada, and tickets to PortAventura World and Ferrari Land Parks.
