Is your business in the tourism and hospitality sector? Then the Tourism Enterprise Development (TED) programme is here to accelerate its post-Covid recovery.
Survive, revive,
171112_TNI_TED_DPBanner_420x20.indd 1
Eye on News
Northern Ireland to Host Annual Meeting for Inbound Tour Operators
Tourism NI has successfully bid to host the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for ITOA (Incoming Tour Operators Association) Council Members in January 2022 at the Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort - the first face to face ITOA AGM since 2020.
T
his annual meeting brings together the members of the association, who are Ireland based tour operators who package and promote to over 4,000 global travel trade partners and customers. This will be their first face to face AGM since 2020 and the bid to host this event has been made possible through the Tourism Recovery Action Plan. Tourism NI work closely with ITOA to promote additional programming of Northern Ireland on the members’ itineraries and this year has already seen a range of sales and marketing activities designed to bring together
12
ITOA members and local tourism businesses. Today (17 November) will see 104 tourism businesses from Northern Ireland engage in 2000 virtual appointments to promote their experience or property to ITOA members. Tourism NI’s Business Solutions Executive Officer, Dawn Corrigan said: “In 2019, ITOA members delivered over £500 million of business and 704,500 promotable visitors to the island of Ireland, making the association’s members a vital part of the growth of the tourism industry in Northern Ireland. International
Tourism NI has successfully bid to host the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for ITOA (Incoming Tour Operators Association) Council Members in January 2022 at the Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort. Pictured outside the Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort (L-r) are Beth Greenan, Group Sales Manager at Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort, Nuala Saul, ITOA Executive Member, Dawn Corrigan, Tourism NI’s Business Solutions Executive Officer and Maurice Johnston, Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort.
tourism business is a vital part of our tourism economy as it generates regional spread and encourages mid-week year-round spend which is highly valued by industry partners.” She added: “We want to continue to provide this platform for our tourism providers so they can tap into a global distribution which allows them to promote and sell their business as well as Northern Ireland to key oversea markets. This will be the third time that the prestigious AGM has been held in Northern Ireland and we look forward to welcoming ITOA council members in the new year.” ITOA President, Rob Rankin said: “We are really delighted to have our first in person AGM meeting and members gathering in Northern Ireland
and Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort to look forward to in January 2022. Our AGM is an important event in ITOA’s calendar as it provides the opportunity for members to spend time meeting and experiencing the destination that we are located. Tourism Northern Ireland’s ongoing support and engagement with ITOA and our members, in providing important networking opportunities like our workshops has been really important. It ensures that Northern Ireland remains high on our members radar to promote to our existing overseas partners and positions the destination to capitalise on expected recovery in 2022”.
