13 October 2021
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
Some 60 tourism companies from Ireland – including The Kingsley Hotel – attended Flavours of Ireland 2021 in London, this week. ‘Flavours’ is Tourism Ireland’s annual B2B tourism workshop, where tourism companies from Ireland meet and do business with top global inbound tour operators.
Now in its 19th year, ‘Flavours’ – which took place virtually in 2020 – was an in-person event once again this year. It was held in the beautiful Guildhall, in the City of London, and was attended by around 100 top global inbound tour operators who deliver business from all over the world, including the US, Mainland Europe, Asia, Australasia and Africa.
This year, ‘Flavours’ is of particular importance, as overseas tourism restarts and the participating global inbound tour operators prepare to sign contracts for 2022 and 2023. It is, therefore, a key time for the participating tourism companies from Ireland to highlight and sell their product to these important decision-makers.
David Boyce, Tourism Ireland’s Head of Global Inbound and Emerging Markets, said: “Tourism Ireland is delighted that so many tourism organisations from Ireland and so many leading global inbound tour operators took the time to join us at our annual ‘Flavours of Ireland’ event – which was an in-person event once again this year. Before COVID-19, these tour operators were responsible for delivering millions of bed-nights to Ireland. As overseas tourism restarts and the participating tour operators prepare to sign contracts for 2022 and 2023, we very much welcome the business and networking opportunities it presented. Our aim is to increase awareness of Ireland among these hugely influential global inbound tour operators and to help Ireland and our tourism partners secure a greater share of the huge worldwide tourism market.”
Maria Leonor Chivite Garcia and Michele Pezza, both Welcome beds; Shane Clarke, Tourism Ireland; and Caitriona O’Mahoney, The Kingsley, at Flavours of Ireland 2021.
Pic – Malcolm McNally
