Businesses can now identify which essential selling skills they have and which they may need to develop using our quick assessment tool which makes up part of Fáilte Ireland’s suite of online business tools.

The quick assessment tool is just one of a suite of online business tools which are available for businesses to access online and free of charge.

You’ll find more sales tools tailored for your tourism sector on the Business Tools website:

• Hotels  
• Guesthouses/B&Bs
• Other Accommodation  
• Restaurants  
• Activities  
• Attractions  

RTE’s popular series Tracks and Trails began last Sunday with RTE sports broadcaster Tracey Piggot showcasing the Tipperary Heritage Trail. The Tipperary Heritage Trail starts at the Knockmealdown Mountains and continues to the Rock of Cashel taking in the Golden Vale, Our Lady’s Abbey and the River Suir. 

This episode was the first in a five part series which will showcase spectacular walks and cycle tracks in stunning locations across Ireland and are presented by different celebrity guests each week.

Walking is an extremely popular activity with both Irish holidaymakers and our overseas visitors. 800,000 Irish people engaged in walking while holidaying at home in 2010 with 650,000 overseas visitors taking part while in Ireland.  These visitors spent €640 million with the majority coming from Britain and mainland Europe. 

Speaking following the first episode, Ciara Scully, Fáilte Ireland’s Walking Development Officer said -

“As a national tourism development authority we welcomed the opportunity to be involved once again in a television series that showcases what is on offer not only for outdoor enthusiasts but for all holidaymakers. 

Walking is becoming an increasing popular activity for Irish holidaymakers.  With the development and enhancement of walking routes across the country, there has never been a better time to experience walking in Ireland.  

We hope Tracks and Trails, spotlighting the fabulous walking routes available across the country, will persuade the watching audience to take a break in Ireland next year.” 

The show is aired on Sundays at 7pm and the remaining four shows will cover:

Episode 2 (27 November 2011) - Cavan, Fermanagh, Upper Lough Erne – Presented by comedian, Colin Murphy

Episode 3 – (4 December 2011) – Mulranny to Achill Island – presented by broadcaster, Jim Sherwin

Episode 4 – (11 December 2011) – The Burren Co. Clare – presented by meteorologist, Evelyn Cusack

Episode 5 – (18 December 2011) – Feargal Quinn – Howth Head, Co. Dublin

Other partners involved in the series include Waterways Ireland & the Irish Sports Council.

A selection of Kilkenny chefs showcase the Blasta trail delights in Kilkenny.

Businesses in Kilkenny, with the support of Fáilte Ireland, have launched ‘Kilkenny’s Blásta Trail’’. The Blásta Trail will see local restaurants, hotels, cafes and pubs offering a range of Irish inspired tapas or taster dishes, featuring local and regional food to their customers to give visitors a true taste of the city.

Businesses taking part in the new trail are offering upwards of three tapas items on their menus on various afternoons and evenings during the week, to allow visitors engage with the experience. 

Each dish is priced with value for money in mind and many dishes are combined as a sharing platter or paired with a local /Irish beverage for even better value.

Speaking about the Blásta Trail and the importance of food in tourism, Amanda Horan, Fáilte Ireland in the South East emphasised –

“By offering visitors to Kilkenny a selection of tastes from local and regional producers, we hope to create new and unforgettable memories of the county and an appreciation of the best which the region offers in quality food. We literally want to leave a good taste in the mouths of our visitors and ensure that they will have plenty of reasons to return, and indeed recommend Kilkenny to family and friends.”

It is anticipated that the Blásta Food trail will be extended to other tourist areas throughout the region early next year, in time for the 2012 tourist season.

Businesses involved in Kilkenny’s Blásta Trail include:

Restaurants/Cafes –  Zuni Café and Bar, Patrick Street; Café Sol, William St; Kilkenny Café, Market Cross, off Parliament Street

Hotels – Pure Bar, Hotel Kilkenny, College Road Roundabout; Stathams, Pembroke Hotel, Patrick Street; Victor’s Bar, Club House Hotel, Patrick Street

Pubs – Paris Texas, High Street; Marble City Bar, High Street; Kytlers Inn, St Kieran Street

Tourism businesses offering marketing Internships via JobBridge, the government’s National Internship Scheme, can now benefit from a number of supports from Fáilte Ireland including a new resource guide to steer them through the Internship process and a free five-day tourism marketing training programme for marketing Interns which focuses on understanding Ireland’s key overseas markets, what they are looking for, and how to market them effectively.

Offering a tourism marketing Internship through JobBridge is ideal for any tourism business looking to grow its overseas visitor numbers and offers a number of benefits to the employer including –

• Enhancing the performance of your organisation by bringing in motivated and skilled individuals who will add value to your organisation
• Bringing in fresh ideas and new thinking
• Providing access to potential new employees

The new resource guide will be of particular value to businesses interested in advertising an Internship, as it includes information on:

• How to find out if your organisation is eligible for JobBridge
• What a good Internship looks like
• Detailed information on the Internship process
• Templates and tools for completing the Internship specification, and a completed marketing example

The first five day training programme for tourism marketing Interns is taking place in Dublin next week. This training aims to ensure that Interns gain insight and knowledge on Ireland’s key overseas markets and how to effectively sell Ireland, as a destination, once they have been offered a position under the Internship scheme. This training will be rolled out in other areas in the coming months.

Click here for further information on the Internship Scheme  

Click here to download The Resource Guide for Tourism Businesses

The latest travel figures from the CSO for July to September 2011 show that over 5 million visitors came to Ireland in the first nine months of the year – an increase of 10% on the same period in 2010. 

For the first nine months of 2011:

• Visitors from Great Britain were up by 7.4%
• Mainland European visitors were up by 12.3%
• North American numbers were up by 10.6%
• Other long haul routes were up by 15%

 Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar TD, said -

“From an early stage this Government targeted tourism as a key growth area for the economy. That’s why the Jobs Initiative had such a strong tourism element.  These latest figures, which cover the period from when the Jobs Initiative took effect, indicate that the measures are helping to sustain the rebound earlier in the year, and we are going to see annual growth in visitor numbers for the first time since 2007”.

Minister of State for Tourism Michael Ring said he was heartened to see that the trend for home holidays among Irish people continued during the year.

“I think many Irish people who holidayed at home this year will have been surprised and delighted by what they found, in terms of the value and range on offer. I hope they will be persuaded to explore Ireland again in the coming years.”

Fáilte Ireland CEO, Shaun Quinn further emphasised - 

“These figures are a clear reflection of the fact that Ireland is now providing greater value for money than ever before and that tourism is picking up globally. However, we can’t be complacent. We in Fáilte Ireland are determined to continue Ireland’s fight for an ‘unfair’ share of the global traveller market and to work closely with tourism businesses throughout the country to help them target, sell and close the deal with those key overseas markets which will provide the greatest return.”

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar T.D., has last week announced details of €6.6 million in funding for nine tourism projects, allocated under Fáilte Ireland’s Tourism Capital Investment Programme.

The projects receiving funding are:

• Cycleway to Croagh Patrick, Co Mayo
• Castlebar to Islandeady Link, Co Mayo
• Riverside improvements in Limerick
• Derrynane House, Co Kerry
• Spike Island Walk, Co Cork
• Clare Glens Amenity Area, Co Tipperary
• Nenagh Cycleway Signage, Co Tipperary
• Doolin Cycle Hub, Co Clare
• Burren Heritage Trail, Co Clare

(A full outline of the projects can be found below)

Speaking about the investment Minister Varadkar said -

“Tourists are always on the lookout for things to do and many of our visitors want to get out and experience our beautiful scenery through either walking or cycling.  The great success of the Greenway in Mayo is well known and these extensions will make it even more attractive, but these grants also enhance other destinations such as the Burren, the Clare Glens and Spike Island. Walking and cycling play to our strengths as a destination and the easier we can make it for those interested in those activities, the more attractive Ireland is for them to visit.”

Funding for each of these projects will be provided under Fáilte Ireland’s Capital Investment Programme. Shaun Quinn, CEO Fáilte Ireland said -

“While value for money and a high quality customer experience is an important part of selling Ireland as a destination both at home and abroad, ensuring Ireland is fully equipped to cater for visitors is equally a crucial aspect to developing tourism in Ireland. Our Capital Investment Programme runs under the premise that all projects funded under the programme will add value to what Ireland is offering visitors ensuring that they leave with wonderful memories of Ireland looking to return again.”

Full outline of projects

Cycleway to Croagh Patrick, Co Mayo

Development of a cycleway to Croagh Patrick which will include a two way, traffic-free walking and cycling path along the R335 from the Greenway, at Westport, to Belclare where it will link with the existing Murrisk to Belclare path.

Castlebar to Islandeady Link, Co Mayo

To link existing tourism infrastructure, the Greenway and the Castlebar walking loops. The funding will include the development of a linear route to connect Castlebar, via Islandeady, with the Westport Cycle Network and the Greenway and also establish a link onto the existing Castlebar walking loops.

Riverside improvements in Limerick

The next stage of the Limerick Riverside Improvement Strategy, this project will see a trail between Shannon Bridge and Sarsfield Bridge being developed along Howley’s Quay. This upgrading includes the installation of boardwalks, the development of a performance area, other street furniture and infrastructure.  The work will enhance the riverside product further and will provide connectivity between all three River Shannon Crossings in the City for walking and cycling purposes.

Derrynane House, Co Kerry

The ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell, this project will secure the building and ensure it continues to meet the requirements and demands of modern tourists.  The main focus of the new presentation of the house will be an emphasis on presenting the house in a style similar to how it would have been in O’Connell’s time.  The works will include measures to make Derrynane as accessible as possible to all visitors while at the same time protecting the historical integrity of the site.  The works will be phased over the next 2 to 3 years and, where possible, will be completed outside of the traditional tourism season.

Spike Island Walk, Co Cork

Walks around Fort Mitchell on Spike Island will be developed.  The walk will follow a route around the perimeter of the fortification, Fort Mitchell, and will have a total length of 1.61km.  The route will have a compacted surface which will be suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.  It will be complemented by information boards to tell the story of Spike Island, the wider harbour, and the history of the various buildings on the Island.  The areas around the walk will be fully landscaped and a play area will also be included for families.

Clare Glens Amenity Area, Co Tipperary

To enhance the Clare Glens Amenity Area thereby improving facilities for visitors. This will involve upgrading footpaths and toilet facilities, as well as the provision of play equipment, picnic tables, and litter bins.  Safety handrails will also be installed and map/information board provided.  Improvements will also be made to the main entrance to make it more accessible.

Nenagh Cycleway Signage, Co Tipperary

To further enhance the existing North Tipperary Cycle Network which is centred around Nenagh. Following a recent review of the operation and the usage of the network it has been acknowledged that there is a requirement to provide further additional signage and information boards at various locations around the routes.  The signage is required for safety and provision of information.

Doolin Cycle Hub, Co Clare

Further development of the existing cycle route in Doolin, County Clare.  The funding will be used provide additional signage and information boards at various locations, which be of benefit in terms of both user safety and visitor information.

Burren Heritage Trail, Co Clare

A series of heritage walking trails which will add value to the existing walking and cycling product in the Burren.  Looped trails will be developed in association with landowners and a range of agencies such as the Walks Scheme, National Parks and Wildlife Service, National Monuments Service, Clare County Council and Shannon Development.  The seven identified sites are Carran, Doolin, Fanore, Flaggy Shore (New Quay), Kilinaboy, Lisdoonvarna and Lough Bunny.  Each of these locations has been identified because they offer easy access to an interesting variety of landscapes and culture.

Following the successful visit of her Majesty the Queen to Cork this summer, a number of key members of the local tourism industry travelled to Bristol last week to promote all that Cork has to offer.

The trip, supported by Fáilte Ireland, will allow the group to network with key UK operators and media at a variety of events and is all about promoting and celebrating Cork as a holiday destination. 

Local operators on the sales mission included the Clarion Hotel, Riverlee, Metropole Hotel, Castlemartyr, Inchydoney Island, Cork Festivals forum, Fota Wildlife Park, Cork Sea Safari, and Cork Airport and the IHF.  

Speaking about the trip, Fiona Buckley from Fáilte Ireland said –

The Queen’s visit along with accolades such as Top European City to visit in 2011 by Yahoo and Best in Travel 2010 -Lonely Planet have all helped in heightening the excitement around Cork. Fáilte Ireland is working hard to ensure that local businesses in Cork are joining forces to capitalise on all this good publicity. Now is the time to excite the trade in Bristol and ensure they put Cork on their books for 2012 and beyond.”

Ms Buckley continued –

“This sales mission is aimed at winning business for the remainder of 2011 and securing programme space for Cork in 2012.  There is real belief throughout the tourism industry in Cork that there is business to be won.  With direct air access with Aer Lingus from Cork to Bristol, it is the ideal time to get the message out that Cork is open and ready for business.”

Fáilte Ireland is inviting General Managers and Executive Chefs to join us at a major food workshop and networking event this December which will explore how Irish food businesses can stand out from the crowd by enhancing the customers experience and increase profits. The good news is that attendance at the event is FREE.

Speakers on the day will include:

Robbie Bargh, International Food Guru and global trend analyst who will look at global industry trends for 2012 and beyond.

Tom O’ Connell of O’Connell’s restaurant, Donnybrook will give an Irish perspective of how he utilizes local food to make his business more profitable and Martin Potts, Fáilte Ireland will provide an overview of the supports available to businesses through the national tourism authority.

Anyone attending on the day will also have the opportunity to meet local producers and sample some high quality products.

Register to Attend

The seminar will take place in O’ Connells Restaurant, Donnybrook from 9.30am – 1pm on Tuesday 6^th December and anyone interested in attending can email martin.potts@failteireland.ie or call 01 8847840 by Friday 25^th November.

With energy prices regularly increasing every business should be ensuring that they are managing their energy as efficiently as possible Green Hospitality, Ireland’s environmental authority, is running a series of Energy Management Master Classes in November & December for the hospitality sector – entry is free for Green Hospitality Members and €50 per person for non-members.

The master classes will look at opportunities for hospitality businesses to reduce consumption and costs and will take place in Galway, Dublin and Cork on the following dates: 

 Places are limited so book your place today by emailing info@ghaward.ie

Fiona Monaghan and Siobhan Reynolds, Fáilte Ireland; Ciaran Collins, Adventure Islands and Michael Ring T.D., Minister of State for Tourism & Sport are pictured in Westport on the run up to the Activity and Adventure Forum

This year’s annual Tourism Adventure and Activity Forum will take place in Westport next week on the 3^rd and 4^th of November.

Now in its third year, the Tourism Adventure and Activity Forum offers a unique opportunity for adventure and activity operators from all over Ireland to access the latest research and information on international best-practice and developments in the sector.

Attendees will hear from a number of expects including Chris Doyle, Vice President of Adventure Travel Trade Association and Lindsay Gibson, Destination Cumbria. They will also hear from local businesses, Electric Escapes and Mulranny Park Hotel who will tell their story and talk about how they are operating in the activity and adventure sector.

The second day of the conference will address trends and profiles of “activity” visitors and Brian Maher, Fáilte Ireland, Gary Joyce, Genesis Consulting, Amy Rankin, Vagabond Tours and Chris Doyle, will spread some light on what activity and adventure holidaymakers are looking for and how Irish businesses can attract them. 

The forum will also, for the first time, give those attending the opportunity to meet and do business with approximately 40 overseas tour operators who are interested in programming activity and adventure holidays in Ireland.

A series of workshops will also take place and a number of key guest speakers from the activity and adventure arena will address the forum.

Businesses interested in attending the forum can contact adventure@failteireland.ie