On the final day of the 2026 Travel Counsellors Conference, ITTN’s Katie joined TCs and suppliers as they connected and networked across the day and night in Fota Island Resort, Cork.
The morning sessions consisted of panel discussions and expert talks, giving integral insights to Travel Counsellors on how to grow their travel businesses online and on social media. Speaking to some TCs afterwards, they said they found the sessions incredibly helpful for their future business plans. From understanding their keywords as a business to their unique selling points across corporate, leisure and long-haul, TCs learned how to put themselves into the shoes of their future customers to find out how best to approach online marketing and in-person networking.
There was also lots to celebrate in the morning business sessions too as TC Ireland, through a variety of activations that took place throughout the year, have raised an astounding €16,963 for Breakthrough Cancer Research, a medical research charity which is dedicated to making more survivors of cancer across Ireland. The charity has achieved fantastic results to date with over three-hundred novel discoveries, eight new treatments delivered and over one thousand patients treated. TC Ireland’s contribution will make huge waves in helping the charity achieve even more success over the next twelve months.
After a lovely lunch in Fota restaurant, suppliers joined the conference for an afternoon of networking where key representatives from across the travel trade came to speak to individual Travel Counsellors on a variety of offerings. From airlines to destinations, hotel groups to boutique travel brands, adventure and touring to ticketing, couple resorts to family getaways: there were over 55 suppliers that joined the TC Travel Market! As the sun broke out in Cork, there was an excitement in the air as TCs planned new offerings and learned from suppliers how they can work collaboratively to make their guests experience abroad as memorable as possible. There was even an ice-cream van on hand to make that summer feeling palpable!
After a day of inspiring talks, connection and collaboration it was time for the main event: the black-tie gala dinner! MSC sponsored a drinks reception for TCs and suppliers alike, dressed up to celebrate a fantastic year for the company. The Smith Barry room was transformed into a magical ballroom, with candles and pink flowered trees set up across tables and there was even more magic where that came from as an entertaining magician in Gerard Kearney went table to table and wowed with magic tricks. As the awards kicked off, Cathy Burke and Bernie Whelan opened the evening thanking suppliers for their continued support and the fantastic work of TCs in the past year.
The night began in earnest with three supplier awards voted for by TCs themselves: MSC won the first award for Making Waves, accepted by Suzanne and Alana, while Emirates won Partner Airline of the Year. Wide-Eyed Tours, that arranges personalised travel in South-East Asia, picked up the award for Business Partner of the Year and then it was onto the Travel Counsellor awards!
Sharon Tiernan-Murphy was awarded most helpful TC while Mandy Walsh was awarded for Business Excellence. Brian Bloomer picked up the award for Top New Starter, while the Best Business Growth award went to Katharine Prior. Top Cruise Travel Counsellor went to Eleanor Roche. Jamie Thomas was awarded for most Customer Referrals while Top Performing TC in Corporate went to Cahterine Maguire. Top Performing TC in Leisure went to Sarah McCarthy who also won Top Performing TC overall!
The evening included a wonderful three-course meal and after the awards a brilliant band took to the stage that had everyone on their feet! Congratulations to Cathy Burke, Bernie Whelan and the entire TC office for a wonderful two days and for the brilliant work they are doing across the year to make Travel Counsellors Ireland so successful!
