Tourism Ireland brings ‘road show’ to Boston

A dozen Irish hospitality officials and leaders of Tourism Ireland’s American bureau kicked-off a three American city roadshow in Boston on April 24 with a presentation to local travel trade and media members at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Some 150 invited guests heard about Irish vacation opportunities, including details about the Wild Atlantic Way, Northern Ireland, the Causeway Coastal Route, and the cities of Cork and Dublin. Presenters also spoke about Belfast’s Titanic heritage, Waterford Crystal, and a variety of other travel destinations across the island of Ireland.

Tourism Ireland’s executive vice president for the USA and Canada, Alison Metcalfe, greeted the guests. “We are delighted to be here in Boston profiling everything that is great about a trip to Ireland,” she said. “In 2017, we welcomed a record 1.83 million visitors from North America. Looking to the year ahead, 2018 has got off to a good start and we are confident that our new strategy for growth, extensive marketing program combined with more airline seats and the competitiveness of the vacation experience around the island of Ireland will deliver further growth.”

Metcalfe said New England residents have expanded choices for flights to Ireland, including non-stop Aer Lingus flights from Boston and Hartford to Dublin and Shannon, Norwegian Air International routes from Providence to Belfast, Cork, Shannon and Dublin, and direct Delta Airlines Boston-Dublin service that resume later this month.

After the Boston event, the roadshow continued on to Chicago and will conclude in Seattle. Irish travel partners in the group included Ireland’s Blue Book, Adams & Butler, Railtours Ireland First Cass, Titanic Belfast, Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau, Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism, Harvey’s Point, Ashford Castle, Hayfield Manor, House of Waterford Crystal, The Merrion Hotel, B&B Ireland and Dublin Liberties Whiskey Distillery.

More details about travel to Ireland is available at ireland.com