Eight luxury travel agents from the United States have been visiting Ireland as guests of Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism NI.
The travel agents are all members of Virtuoso and Signature Travel Network – travel agent networks which specialise in luxury travel.
They design unique, luxury travel itineraries for their American clients to destinations around the world, so the aim of the visit to Ireland is to familiarise the travel advisors with the island’s superb luxury tourism offering, so that when they return home, they will be better informed and more enthusiastic than ever about Ireland when advising their clients about planning and booking their holidays here.
Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s Head of North America, said: “Tourism Ireland was delighted to work with Virtuoso and Signature Travel Network, to invite this group of specialist luxury travel agents to visit Ireland, to experience at first-hand some of our luxury tourism offering, including our boutique hotels and high-end resorts. Seeing is believing – and our aim is that when they return home, they will be even more enthusiastic about the destination, helping to secure a greater share of their business for Ireland in 2025 and beyond.”
During their time here, the travel agents will do site inspections at some of our top luxury hotels, including Adare Manor, Muckross Park Hotel & Spa, Sheen Falls Lodge, Park Hotel Kenmare, Dromoland Castle, Mount Juliet Estate, The Merrion Hotel, Lough Erne Resort, Bishop’s Gate Hotel and Culloden Estate & Spa.
Their action-packed itinerary – designed by Adams & Butler – also includes a falconry experience at Adare Manor, a visit to Molly Gallivan’s Cottage and a jaunting car tour through Killarney National Park. They’ve also been visiting Kildare Village, the Pearse Lyons Whiskey Distillery in Dublin, the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Titanic Belfast.