Fáilte Ireland News

Keep Discovering Fáilte Ireland’s major new Marketing Campaign

Fáilte Ireland’s brand new €6million domestic and Northern Ireland marketing campaign ‘Keep Discovering’, which aims to grow domestic holidays in Ireland, kicked off at the end of February with a 60 second television ad and over 40+ weeks, the campaign will also feature on radio, large scale outdoor billboards, in cinemas and across a range of digital channels. According to Fáilte Ireland’s CEO Paul Kelly, only just over half (56%) of Irish people currently take a break in Ireland. “By putting ‘discovery’ at the heart of our new campaign we hope to encourage more people to explore more areas of the country and experience the joy and simplicity of discovery.” stated Paul Kelly. “Our research also tells us that 4 out of 5 people return to the same location in Ireland on holidays. We are hoping our new Keep Discovering campaign will inspire them to break away from routine and experience some of the many hidden gems available across the country.”

Center Parcs recognised as an innovative tourism employer

Center Parcs has won the inaugural Fáilte Ireland Spotlight Series Tourism and Hospitality Award at the Great Place to Work 2020 Awards for it’s ‘outstanding people practices’. The award was launched by Fáilte Ireland and Great Place to Work last year to highlight businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector that are delivering innovative programmes to develop and invest in their staff. The Longford holiday destination, which has brought 1,000 jobs to the local area since it was established in 2019, stood out for “its authentic commitment to developing employees at all levels and giving them a platform to really get to know every part of the business” according to Paul Hayden, Head of Tourism Careers at Fáilte Ireland. PREM Group, Dalata, The Irish Leprechaun Museum, Dublin and Hillwalking Tours, Co. Galway were Highly Commended in the Spotlight Series award.

Fáilte Ireland recently launched an expansion of its Historic Towns Trail initiative in Tipperary. The initiative, in partnership with the Tipperary local authority and local historian Des Murnane, will showcase the stories behind the historic town of Tipperary through modern and newly updated Historic Towns Trail signage designed to share the stories that shaped the town’s history with visitors.

The Historic Towns Trails are designed to encourage visitors to stay longer and explore the wider region. Tipperary Town is the latest location in Ireland’s Ancient East to have the new signage installed with a further two towns, Fethard and Cashel set to benefit over the coming months. Working with local authorities and historians, Fáilte Ireland has uncovered interesting and lesser known facts and stories from each area’s history. Content is displayed through wayfinding, interpretation, photography and maps at key locations across each town.

Pat Slattery and Marie Phelan, Tipperary County Council, Des Murnane, Historian and Justine Carey, Fáilte Ireland

APPLY NOW: New Classification System for Fáilte Ireland’s Welcome Standard

Fáilte Ireland’s new Welcome Standard classification system is now live, giving accommodation providers the option to achieve a 3, 4 or 5 shamrock classification alongside their existing Welcome Standard approval.

Fáilte Ireland’s Welcome Standard recognises alternative accommodation providers, for example glamping, pods, shepherd huts, yurts and lighthouses and much more.

The new classification system focuses on the quality of service and hospitality offered and has been developed in line with contemporary guest expectations and international best practice, giving businesses the chance to stand out from the crowd.

For more information and to complete the Welcome Standard Assessment to achieve classification, please visit www.failteireland.ie/welcomestandard