8th & 9th November 2013 Killashee House Naas. Co. Kildare
The conference was fantastic, we really enjoyed it and I’m full of knowledge to share this morning! Lorraine Roche, Torc Travel, Killarney
For the second year in a row, Travel Centres is returning to the exceptional Killashee House hotel, located 40 minutes drive from Dublin airport, just outside the vibrant market town of Naas, Co. Kildare. Such was the universal praise for last year’s venue that we simply could not disappoint delegates in 2013. This year’s conference — our 9th, aspires to be even better than last year’s and with your help and participation it will!
Congratulations for such a well organized Conference. It was a pleasure to work with Travel Centres. Stephanie Bourke ITAA Travel Professionals Skillnet
For 2013 we will be expanding the owners/ managers programme on the Friday in order to accommodate the greater number of sessions that we have planned for this year and the time being allocated to each session. Although we are still at the planning stages with regards to content, some of the presentations provisionally penciled in for this year’s conference include sessions on sales training, PR, marketing and managing your database. We have also doubled the size of the function rooms on the Saturday in order to accommodate the increased number of companies that will be participating at the supplier workshop. Given last year’s huge success, Travel Centres have taken over the entire hotel for the Saturday and Saturday night. Anticipation is already growing as to who will be the winners and losers at our 2nd Annual Awards ceremony which takes place during the Gala Dinner on Saturday, November 9th.
Last year, 21 companies (19 agencies and two tour operators) were recognised for their contributions at a glittering function that saw many agency owners vowing to make it to the winner’s podium in 2013! As we are already almost at the mid-way point of the trading year, we will shortly be contacting each agency in order to gather relevant information that will help us in the adjudication process later in the year. Last year, some agencies decided to use their attendance at the Gala Dinner on the Saturday night as the basis for their office Christmas Party so feel free to mimic them and make this event your office night out, given its proximity to the party season! To get you into the party mood on November 8th, we have booked who are generally regarded as the best ‘event’ band in the British Isles — the RPJ band — to provide the musical entertainment at the Gala Dinner.
The Travel Centres annual conference is the largest such trade event on the industry calendar where owners, managers and front line staff from the consortium’s 70 affiliated agencies from across the country come together to meet with their preferred suppliers and learn more about their products and services. Although primarily a business forum, the conference also affords plenty of opportunities for supplies and agents alike to socialise; catch up with old acquaintances and form new friendships!
The Friday morning sessions are set-aside exclusively for owners and managers and are held ‘in camera’. The afternoon sessions are open to all and are conducted on either a ‘theatre’ or classroom’ format basis. The supplier workshop on the Saturday is conducted using the tried and tested ‘speed dating’ format whereby agent participants rotate sequentially from supplier table to supplier table — all of which are numbered.
for lunch. Socialising and networking are catered for on both days by means of a cocktail reception and private dinner on the Friday, including entertainment (max: 100), whilst the Saturday features the MSC Cocktails & Manicures hour at 5.00 p.m., followed by pre-dinner drinks at 7.30 p.m. and the Gala Dinner & Awards kicking off at 8.30 sharp. Dancing follows the awards ceremony at 11.00 and carries on into the wee small hours!
Each session lasts approximately 15 minutes in duration with both the morning and afternoon proceedings each featuring a 10-minute presentation to the overall audience in attendance. Both the morning and afternoon segments on both days feature 15-minute refreshment breaks whilst an hour is set aside
Following the huge success of last year’s event, we expect demand to be considerable this year so our advice is to register early, in order to ensure that we can accommodate you in the conference hotel as all other accommodation is a good 10-minute taxi drive away.
On behalf of the Globe Hotels and Best4Travel Team, congratulations on this year’s Travelcentres Conference. It really was a triumph. The venue and the organization was first class and the awards ceremony was a great addition this year. You could see how much winning an award meant to the agents. Paula Scanlon, GlobeHotels.ie
Conference 2013 Provisional Programme Friday, November 8th 2013
Saturday, November 9th 2013
09:15 – 09:45 Registration 09:45 – 10:00 Refreshments 10:00 – 10:15 Welcome & year Review 10:15 – 11:45 Closed Forum # 1 11:45 – 12:00 Tea/Coffee 12:00 – 13:00 Closed Forum # 2 13:00 – 14:00 Lunch 14:00 – 14:45 Presentation # 1 14:45 – 15:30 Presentation # 2 15:30 – 15:45 Tea/Coffee 15:45 – 16:30 Presentation # 3 16:30 – 17:15 Presentation # 4
09:15 – 10:00 Registration 10:00 – 11:30 Supplier Workshops Round # 1 11:30 – 11:45 Tea/Coffee 11:45 – 12:00 Presentation # 1 12.00 – 13:00 Supplier Workshops Round # 2 13:00 – 14:00 Lunch 14:00 – 15:30 Supplier Workshops Round # 3 15:30 – 15:45 Tea/Coffee 15:45 – 16:00 Presentation # 2 16:00 – 17:00 Supplier Workshop Round # 4
19.30 – 20.30 Cocktail Reception 20.30 – 23.00 Dinner/Entertainment
17:00 – 18:00 MSC Cocktails & Manicures 19:30 – 20:30 Cocktail Reception 20:30 – 22:15 Gala Dinner 22:15 – 23:00 Awards Ceremony and Prize Draws 23:00 – 01:00 RPJ Band 01:00 – 03:00 Disco
Non Delegate Programme Given the superb location and facilities of this year’s venue, members are more than welcome to bring their partners and spouses along. With this in mind, we have prepared a range of options that non-participants can avail of during both days of the conference. Villa Spa Treatments Travel Centres has negotiated some fantastic spa treatments, such as: Option 1: Option 2: Option 3:
Choose one 25 minute treatment ¤40 Choose two 25 minutes treatments ¤60 Choose one 55 minute treatment ¤60
Option 4:
The Turkish Rasul Mud Treatment Minimum of 2 people Maximum of 4 people
¤90 ¤160
25 Minute Treatments
55 Minute Treatments
Treatment 1 - Balneotherapy Bath: Relax and revive in a hot bath while 252 jets massage your body from top to toe.
Treatment 7 - Swedish Full Body Massage: Powerful customised massage uses dynamic blends of essential oils to suit your individual need, to deeply relax and unwind the body.
Treatment 2 - Dry Floatation: Allows the body to unwind and relax, complete weightless treatments 30mins equals 3hours deep sleep for your body. Treatment 3 - Exotic Salt Scrub: An exotic exfoliation to invigorate and revitalise the body that will leave the skin silk to the touch.
Treatments 8 - Elemis Skin Specifics Facial: Powerful deep cleansing facial, renews radiance and stimulates the skin for long last results combined with eastern massage techniques to further enhance results.
Treatment 5 - Elemis Back massage: A traditional Back Massage to promote pure relaxation and sheer bliss.
Treatment 9 - Aroma Spa Ocean Wrap: Seaweed wraps treatment to detoxify and deep cleanse the body inside out. Cellutox Wrap: Detoxifying blend of juniper and lemon decongests and stimulates the body’s systems, improves the dimpled appearance of cellulite and reduces fluid retention. Musclease Wrap: A warming blend of pine and rosemary helps to ease the pains of rheumatism, arthritis and fatigue.
Treatment 6 - Head, Neck & Shoulder Massage: A Balinese massage that incorporates shoulders, neck, face & scalp massage.
Treatment 10 - Deluxe Spa Pedicure: Sit back & relax while you indulge in a treatment that will leave your feet feeling utterly pampered.
Treatment 4 - Elemis Taster Facial: Cleanse, tone, exfoliation, mask and moisturise, all tailored to suit your individual needs.
Corporate guests availing of these specials are required to arrive at The Villa Spa 30 minutes prior to appointment time to complete a consultation form and relax in preparation for your treatments. As part of our service we provide robes, slippers, towels and disposable underwear for the duration of your stay. All guests are entitled to use our relaxation suite and country club facilities. Swimwear is needed for pool use. Tea, coffee, juices and mineral water are complimentary. We kindly ask that 48 hours notice must be given in order to cancel appointment. Less than 24 hours notice of cancellation will result in a 50% charge. If you do not attend your appointment, this will result in a full charge of the treatment to your account. All of the staff at Killashee Villa Spa looks forward to your visit.
Local Visitor Attractions and Discounts: Kildare Town Heritage Centre Free admission, Kildare Town Kildare Village Designer Outlet Extra 10% off for guests of Killashee House Hotel National Stud & Japanese Gardens Tully, Co. Kildare. 2 for the price of 1 offer for guests of Kilashee House Hotel Naas Shopping Centre 10% Discount Card with agreed retailers Newbridge Silver Visitors Centre Admission free. Visit the Museum of Style Icons Killashee Treat Sheet Discounts exclusive to guests for local shopping activities Killashee Leisure Facilities 25m pool plus kiddies’ pool. Steam room, sauna, exercise room and weights area Golf: Nearby courses include:
The K Club (16km), Craddockstown (1.5km), Naas (1.5km)
Membership Listing South Quay, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick Ace Travel Bridge Street, Arklow, Co. Wicklow Avondale Travel 23, Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork Bernard Hayes Travel Office 1, The Paddocks, Main Street, Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath Best4Travel North Mall, Navan Town Centre, Navan, Co. Meath Best4Travel Charlestown Shopping Centre, St. Margarets' Road, Charlestown, Dublin 11 Best4Travel Scotch Hall Shopping Centre, Drogheda, Co. Louth Best4Travel Nutgrove Shopping Centre, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 Best4Travel Blackpool Shopping Centre, Blackpool, Cork Blackpool Travel Friar Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary Bowe Travel 15, Main Street, Cavan, Co. Cavan Cavan Travel Cutlery Road, Newbridge, Co. Kildare Cill Dara Travel Market Square, Kildare Town, Co. Kildare Cill Dara Travel Unit 4, Cathedral Building, Lower Abbeygate Street, Galway Corrib Travel 3, Lower Cecil Street, Limerick Creation Travel Emmet Place, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary DK Travel 1A, Donabate Town Centre, Donabate, Co. Dublin Donabate Holidays Douglas Court Shopping Centre, Douglas, Cork Douglas Travel Church Lane, Midleton, Co. Cork East Cork Travel Clybaun Road, Galway Eblana Travel Edward Street, Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow Elliott Travel Aghanish, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo Feerick Travel Unit 7, D-Mek Centre, Teeling Street, Ballina, Co. Mayo Flyaway Travel Barrack Street, Belmullet, Co. Mayo Flyaway Travel Main Street, Celbridge, Co. Kildare Freedom Travel 70, Main Street, Leixlip, Co. Kildare Freedom Travel 15, O'Connell Street, Ennis, Co. Clare Gail Travel Park House, Ballisk Court, Donabate, Co. Dublin GTI (Group Travel International) 4, Gladstone Street, Waterford Harvey Travel Pembroke House, Pembroke Street, Cork Heffernan’s Travel John Street, New Ross, Co. Wexford Hilary Murphy Travel 54, Old bawn Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24 Independent Travel 28, JKL Street, Edenderry, Co. Offaly JK Travel Unit 3, Killiney Shopping Centre, Killiney, Co. Dublin Killiney Travel 19B, Old Street, Malahide, Co. Dublin King Travel 11, Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk KT Travel 24, Princes Street, Cork Lee Travel 57, Main Street, Midleton Lee Travel The Square, Ballincollig, Co. Cork Lee Travel Paul Street Shopping Centre, Cork Lee Travel Unit 1, Larkin House, OldTown, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal Liberty Travel 15, Main Street, Listowel, Co.Kerry Listowel Travel 13, North Main Street, Youghal, Co. Cork MacDonald Travel James Street, Kilkenny Marble City Travel Main Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare Newbridge Travel Clanbrassil Centre, Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth O’Callaghan Travel Church Square, Monaghan O’Hanrahan Travel O'Duffy Centre, Cross lane, Carrickmacross, Co, Monaghan O’Hanrahan Travel Odeon House, Eyre Square, Galway 1Stop Travel High Street, Trim, Co. Meath Padraic Keogh 30 Grosvenor Court, Clontarf, Dublin 3 Platinum Travel 2, Grand Parade, Daunt's Square, Cork Premier Travel 106 Rathgar Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6. Rathgar Travel Castle Street, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary Roscrea Travel 10, Pearse Square, Fermoy, Co. Cork Slattery Travel Society Street, Ballinasloe, Go. Galway Society Travel 45, Bridge Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry Sol International Travel 5, Bridge Place, Tralee, Co. Kerry Sol Falcon Travel Shop 16a, The Plaza, Swords, Co. Dublin Swords Travel 10, O'Connell Street, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford Tandem Travel College Street, Killarney, Co. Kerry Torc Travel Unit 3, Oakleigh, Main Street, Ratoath, Co. Meath Travel Advisors 1, Lower O'Connell Street, Dublin 1 Travel Advisors 5, South Mall, Cork Travelagent.ie Unit 8, Ashbourne Town Centre, Ashbourne, Co. Meath TravelBookers 11, Vernon Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3 The Travel Broker 7, Anglesea Terrace, Cork Travel Focus 36, Eastgate Drive, Eastgate, Little island, Cork TravelFox 76, Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2 Travelworld Main Street, Virginia, Co. Cavan Virginia Travel Castlewarden, Straffan, Co. Kildare Way2Go Travel
2012 8th Annual Conference
Your Entertainment! Rick Parfitt Jnr is the Rock ‘n’ Roll son of Rick Parfitt of Status Quo, now firmly established in his own right not only as a singer/songwriter but as front man of the RPJ Band. He formed The RPJ Band with one goal in mind, to be the best! Rick and the RPJ Band cleverly create their own rock versions of classic pop, indie, blues and rock tunes, providing audiences with brilliant rock ‘n’ roll entertainment.
Previous Conference Locations 2005 2006 2007 2008
Keadeen, Newbridge Mount Wolseley Hilton, Tullow Castletroy, Limerick Killeshin, Portlaoise
2009 2010 2011 2012
Sheraton, Athlone Clarion IFSC, Dublin Clarion IFSC, Dublin Killashee Hotel, Naas
About Travel Centres Travel Centres in Ireland’s leading professional travel agency consortium with 70 affiliated outlets located throughout the country. Our consumer-facing website acts as an information/research resource; an agent finder and the means by which consumers can comparison shop for complex travel itineraries across any of the agents represented in our network so that you get the best of both worlds — the
24/7 ubiquity of the internet, with the convenience and ‘user-friendliness’ of a nationwide network of bricks and mortar traditional travel agencies, all of whom are government licensed and bonded. For further information, call 051 383 622 or email us at dominic@travelcentres.ie www.travelbug.ie