With Suzanne Christie
14MAR08
l to R Martha Robb, Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau; Katie Carroll & Jayne Shackleford, Tourism Ireland; Marie Quinlivan, The Brehon & Maritime Hotels,; Ian Duffy, Royal Irish Tours; Ronan Smyth, Irish Hotels Federation & Adrienne Martyn, Shannon Heritage
Danny Ang, Amex Canada with his Irish Football Association Northern Ireland George Best jersey presented by Katie Carroll, Tourism Ireland
Rosemary Martin of Carlson Wagonlit is presented with the grand prize trip to Ireland by Katie Carroll, Tourism Ireland.
Blitzed By The Irish
Pushing The Green - Nobody does it like Ireland. The charming crew from Tourism Ireland and their industry partners blitzed Toronto last week hosting their annual lead up to St. Patrick’s Day Tradeshow and Presentation at the King Eddy Hotel. The Shamrock Club was out in force to soak up the info and the atmosphere. This year there is extra cause for celebration with added lift to Belfast and Dublin with both Zoom and flyGlobespan from YVR as well as the traditional Air Canada connections.
Team Ireland just has that turn of phrase that makes you feel you have to hop on one of those planes immediately and start soaking up the charm. You want to gallop a horse along the beach just like that fellow in the TV ads – I should be doing that right now! And then wander into a cozy pub to toss back a few Guiness – and then climb one of those big cliffs looking out to sea. Or maybe I should do that before all the Guiness....yes, that’s the order.
How do they make suggesting “take a walk in the west country” sound like such an enticing opportunity – could it be that Irish accent? Everything sounds better when you say it with a lilt in your voice. Tourism Ireland’s Marketing Manager for Canada, Jayne Shackleford has the patter down pat – after all, she has kissed the Blarney stone five times! That Belfast accent could make you believe you’re hearing the notes of Irish music playing in the background....oh, wait a minute – that was live Irish music playing in the background. And, Jayne’s invitation to enjoy an Irish martini had everyone lining up at the bar – to be served a steaming lump of mashed potatoes and delicious helping of Irish stew on top – all in a large martini glass.
The luck o’ the Irish was certainly with many of the agents in attendance. It seemed as if almost everybody walked away with wonderful gift bags and travel prizes Tourism Ireland’s industry partners had ponied up.
How do you spell charm? I-R-E-L-A-N-D
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