Tourism Ireland and TravelMole announce new partnership

Thursday, 30 May, 2006 0

Tourism Ireland and TravelMole, the world’s leading news and resource centre for the travel industry, today announced an exciting new partnership, enabling Tourism Ireland to bring to the trade in Australia heaps of information and ideas from now to the end of the year on the myriad of exciting things for clients to do in Ireland.

The partnership will ensure that the trade in Australia and New Zealand is regularly updated with the latest information and tips on how to sell more Ireland by working with Tourism Ireland and Ireland operator partners in Australia and Ireland.

The common objective is to really satisfy clients’ holiday needs and desires, give them amazing Ireland holiday opportunities and ideas and of course, make more money by selling Ireland.

Tourism Ireland represents the entire island of Ireland and in 2005 Ireland enjoyed a record-breaking year with 14% growth on 2004.

Tourism Ireland invites agents and wholesale staff to join them in celebrating this growth as Ireland is an enjoyable destination to sell and Tourism Ireland ensures that everybody has some fun and experiences the “craic” along the way.

By the way, in case you don’t know, what “craic” means, it is the Irish word for fun/enjoyment normally experienced in Ireland!

Why not become a Shamrock Agent? Simply click on this link – http://www.shamrockagents.com.au or the Shamrock Agent banner on this eNewswire or the TravelMole web site and become part of the Tourism Ireland family.

The Shamrock Agent programme is free to join and agents can complete Module 1 and Module 2 and receive a certificate to prove they are a qualified agent! Module 3 will be out shortly!

Shamrock Agents will also receive regular correspondence outlining new and relevant information which will help them sell Ireland and they will be given preferential invitee status for familiarisation visits, and promotional events. Shamrock Agents can also obtain display material and/or videos for local promotions.

Manager for Tourism Ireland in Australia and New Zealand, Monica Nerney told TravelMole, “we have identified a “well of ignorance” when it comes to Ireland”. “Our challenge is firstly to get Australians and New Zealanders to travel to Ireland and experience first hand what there is to do”.

“There is so much to do in Ireland that people don’t know about”. “Did you know that you can visit the oldest burial tomb in the world at Newgrange, just 1 hour from Dublin, in fact 500 years older than the Pyramids in Egypt”. “We have the cheapest car hire in Europe, the friendliest people in the world and Ireland is the best place to share the “craic”.

“Did you know that Ireland is in fact the world’s largest exporter of bananas in the world?” “Maybe so, maybe not – you will have to make your way to Module 3 to find out!”

Monica added, “We also believe that travel agents in Australia and New Zealand hold the key to the door to Ireland and by joining the Shamrock Agent programme that key fits the lock and the door becomes unlocked to the wealth of information available to Shamrock Agents and of course the opportunity to drive really valuable additional business”.

John Alwyn-Jones, Chairman and Co- Editor of TravelMole in Australia New Zealand said, “It is really exciting to be working with the very dynamic and professional team at Tourism Ireland in this excellent online activity, to promote one of the world’s leading destinations”.

“It is also great that they continue to recognise the tremendous value of the trade in their promotions in Australia New Zealand as a highly effective methodology of driving business, something a number of NTO’s have forgotten.

He added, “It is also great and we are very honoured that Tourism Ireland chose TravelMole to be their partner in this promotion between now and the end of the year”.