Kildare tourism businesses attended major promotion event in Punchestown

Pictured above are Majella O'Sullivan, Newbridge Silverware; Alison Johnson, Kildare Village, Minister of State for Tourism, Patrick O’Donovan; with Chinese Buyers. Chris Bellew /Fennell Photography

Minister of State for Tourism, Patrick O’Donovan and Mayor of Kildare, Cllr Ivan Keatley joined members of the Kildare tourism trade this week at Ireland’s most important travel trade event, Meitheal 2017.

The two day event, which took place locally at Punchestown, involved hundreds of key overseas tourism buyers from over 19 different countries meeting and agreeing future business with Irish tourism businesses.

Many Co Kildare businesses, including the Irish National Stud, Kildare Village, Killashee House Hotel, Barberstown Castle, Clanard Court Hotel, The K Club, Moyvalley Hotel, Newbridge Silverware, The Westgrove Hotel, Celtic Horizon Tours Ltd. and County Kildare Fáilte, took part in the appointments with international agents.

Held annually each spring and organised by Fáilte Ireland, in association with Tourism Ireland, Meitheal provides a platform for Irish tourism operators to win new contracts and customers for next season and beyond.

This year’s event involved:

277 overseas tour operators from 19 different countries; 360 Irish businesses attending; 12,000 face to face meetings programmed; 13 detailed familiarisation tours for international operators - visiting Dublin, Ireland’s Ancient East and along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Patrick O’Donovan said:

“Meitheal is an integral part of the tourism calendar and has a proven ability to generate new business for the tourism sector. I am sure that the meetings which have taken place over the last few days will result in an increase in business contracts and visitors for Ireland and for Kildare.”