French Business Events buyers visit the island of Ireland

A group of French business travel professionals – all specialists in organising international meetings, incentive travel programmes and product launches – has been visiting Ireland, as guests of Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism NI and Horizons by TPG (destination management company).  

The aim of the visit was to showcase the island of Ireland’s superb Business Events offering and to inspire these influential French buyers to bring future meetings and incentive travel to Ireland. The busy itinerary included a visit to Windmill Lane Recording Studios, a ‘Gin School Experience’ at Pearse Lyons Distillery, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Curragh Racecourse, clay pigeon shooting at Abbeyfield Farm near Clane and afternoon tea at Tracey's Farmhouse Kitchen in County Down. The group also enjoyed a Black Taxi Tour of Belfast, as well as visits to Titanic Belfast and Titanic Distillers. 

Tourism Ireland’s message for the French buyers is that the island of Ireland offers a winning combination of world-class infrastructure, unique and luxurious accommodation, state-of-the-art venues, spectacular landscapes and the warmest of welcomes and fantastic hospitality, making it an ideal destination for meetings, incentive travel and events of all sizes. 

David Boyce, Tourism Ireland’s Head of Business Events and Luxury, said: “We were delighted to welcome these influential French business event buyers to Ireland. Seeing is definitely believing, and this visit was a valuable opportunity to highlight Ireland as a premier destination for Business Events.

“Business travel is high value and often midweek and off season by its nature, thereby aligning with Tourism Ireland’s strategy to grow overseas tourism revenue outside of the peak summer season.”