Meet in Ireland

MEETINIRELAND.COM

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CONNECT WITH EXCELLENCE The Emerald Isle’s unique combination of people, place and proximity makes delivering world-class business events and experiences effortless.

Getting to Ireland from Canada has never been easier. Aer Lingus and Air Canada rouge now offer year-round, direct service from Toronto to Dublin. Seasonal service is also available from Toronto and Montreal with Air Transat and from Toronto via St. John’s with WestJet. Once your group has landed, it will be made to feel at home by a people renowned for their hospitality and charm. Ireland is a land of saints and scholars, poets and songwriters. It is a place where the old and new mix seamlessly, and business and pleasure know no boundaries.

The country’s impressive venues range from purpose-built facilities, such as the Convention Centre Dublin, to locations that offer something different and unique: modern universities, historic halls and castles,

exceptional resorts and luxurious hotels. In Northern Ireland, the $40 million revamp of the Belfast Waterfront will be completed in May 2016, making this venue and destination even more appealing for meetings and incentive travel.

As well as world-class facilities, Ireland offers a diverse range of accommodations. Hotels include international brands and small boutiques with every price range available. Authentic and unique options include stays in lighthouses overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and in historic 18th century castles. Five-star luxury hotels are abundant.

On the food and beverage front, fresh local ingredients, artisan producers and world-class chefs are fueling creative menus in restaurants and banquet halls. 2016 is the Year of Food in Northern Ireland. Expect to see the development of new food experiences and trails.

The K Club in Straffan, Co. Kildare, Ireland has just come to the end of a €20m renovation and renewal program.

Over the last 24 months many changes and additions to the resort have taken place including the addition of 2 new all-weather tennis courts, the resurfacing of the entrance avenue, the opening of a new Thai restaurant, the repainting of rooms and public spaces and the commissioning of new Connemara carpets for the lobby and public areas.

An additional 70 new bedrooms have brought the total number of rooms in the hotel to 137. All 70 new rooms are 410 square feet in size, air-conditioned with natural daylight and boast views across the magnificent gardens and the River Liffey.

In addition, a new conference room has been built which features natural daylight and can cater to a variety of meeting styles. Food and beverage offerings have also been supplemented with the brand new Media Puzzle Bar and Lounge in the hotel.

The new facilities come as a welcome addition to the already impressive list of facilities at The K Club. Facilities and activities on offer include golf, tennis, four on-site restaurants, a resort spa, horse riding, falconry, clay target and air rifle shooting, archery and fishing.

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Getting outside is also easy in Ireland. Known as the “Home of the Champions,” it has some of the best golf in the world. In addition to having one-third of the world’s natural links courses, it has some fantastic parkland courses, such as The K Club in Co. Kildare, home of the 2006 Ryder Cup. More adventurous groups can drive the 2,500-kilometre Wild Atlantic Way, an iconic route along the country’s west coast, or discover the Land of Giants and the Causeway Coast route in Antrim, Northern Ireland.

“In Ireland, there’s a diverse range of unique and authentic experiences available,” says Dana Welch, marketing manager for Tourism Ireland in Canada. “You can golf year-round on some of the best courses in the world, enjoy visits to whiskey distilleries or the Guinness Storehouse, or you could try your hand at cooking in one of our cookery schools.

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There are some even more unique experiences available in more rural areas, such as a jaunt ride through the Gap of Dunloe.”

The country’s excellent network of industry professionals and DMCs will guide you to the right experiences and venues for your group, ensuring a hassle-free, memorable business event or incentive travel program.

Meet in Ireland and discover why it’s the country of the Cead Mile Failte—100,000 Welcomes!

Learn more at meetinireland.com.

Tourism Ireland, 2 Bloor Street West, Suite 3403, Toronto, ON, M4W3E2 Tel: 416.925.6368 Email: jsargeant@tourismireland.com

Ireland’s only multi-international award winning DMC Ovation has been creating experiences for over 20 years. We create bespoke programmes to meet and surpass your clients’ expectations through venue sourcing, accommodation management, airport transfers and high-end exclusive group activities. With our in-house production team we help you create “once in a lifetime” events.

For more information please contact:

Marie Lawlor

represented by SGM

marie.lawlor@ovationdmc.com | +353 1 2802641 www.ovationdmc.com/ireland | @OvationIreland MEETINIRELAND.COM

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TOP GLOBAL COMPANIES CHOOSE IRELAND AND THE CCD Over the last decade Ireland has established itself as one of the world’s leading locations for business and a centre of excellence for research and development. Voted as one of the best countries in the world for ease of doing business by Forbes, Ireland’s economic growth rate surged last year, making it the fastest growing economy in the European Union according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Despite the global downturn, Ireland has continued to attract investment by some of the world’s largest companies. Global players in the ICT sector such as Intel, HP, IBM, Microsoft and Apple have been joined by newer leading-edge giants including Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Yahoo, PayPal, eBay, Twitter and Airbnb. Ireland is also home to more than 50% of the world’s leading Financial Services firms including Bank of America, BNP Paribas, BNY Mellon, Cisco Systems, Citibank, HSBC and 4

KBC. In addition, the Life Science sector includes a large majority of top global companies such as Abbott, Bayer, Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic, which have helped make Ireland’s Western corridor the best medical devices ecosystem in the EU regulatory environment.

With so many European headquarters based in Ireland, it’s hard to deny that one of the best countries in the world for doing business, is also the perfect destination for hosting business events. As the country’s only international-standard convention centre with the capacity to host conferences for over 5,000 people, The Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD) has become a valuable asset to many of the global organisations listed above for hosting international conference events.

The venue lends itself perfectly to hosting large conferences and congresses, with halls for exhibitions, a 2,000 seat auditorium for

plenary sessions, and banqueting facilities for up to 3,000 guests. In addition, four boardrooms and 11 meeting rooms are available for intimate meetings and breakout sessions, while six foyer spaces flood the venue with natural light and offer the perfect setting for registration and hospitality.

Positioned at the natural gateway to Europe, Ireland is easily accessible for Canadian delegates who can avail of direct flights from Halifax, Montreal, St John’s and Toronto, as well as several North American cities. The CCD’s central location, just 20 minutes from Dublin Airport and in the heart of the city centre, also gives conference organisers the choice of over 19,000 competitively priced hotel rooms within a 10km radius. Many other amenities, including all of Dublin’s many museums, galleries and tourist attractions are also within close proximity.

The future is not just looking

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bright for Ireland, but also for The CCD which has confirmed a host of high-profile international conferences up until 2018 including the 68th ESOMAR Congress 2015, the Social Media and Critical Care (SMACC) Conference 2016, the 32nd International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology 2016, MicroTAS 2016, the International Conference on Information Systems 2016, Eurospine 2017, World Congress of Biomechanics 2018 and the 37th International Symposium on Combustion 2018.

Offering exceptional service with a high level of professionalism and expertise, the venue has received 27 industry awards and has consistently maintained a customer satisfaction rate of over 96% since opening in 2010.

Contact The CCD’s friendly Sales team today to enquire about booking your next event, visit www. theccd.ie, email sales@theccd.ie or call +353 1 856 0000.

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MEETING & EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS Choosing the right partner to represent you in Established in 1974, Specialized Travel Ireland will play a vital role in hosting a successServices provides important services to event ful event. And Specialized Travel Services is the attendees that have chosen Ireland for their right partner for you. By putting your needs first most important get-togethers. Offering an we will meet and exceed the expectations of extensive portfolio of international and ineach and every one of your attendees. country services, Specialized Travel Services No matter where you may be meeting in will handle all of the arrangements to get to Ireland, few things are more important than makand from wherever you are meeting in Ireland ing sure that everything is handled as smoothly and, once there, make certain that all goes as possible and that each and every attendee well throughout your visit.

And our sister company, Cronin’s leaves with a pleasant memory of their visit. That is the goal of every single professional working Coaches, offers on-site transportation service at Specialized Travel Services….a pre-eminent throughout all of Ireland. A fleet of over 50 Destination Management Company with offices coaches stationed in both Dublin and Cork located in New York City, Dublin and Cork. can efficiently handle all of your transportaSTS half-pg ad final.qxp_Layout 2 8/11/15 12:26 PM Page 1

tion needs regardless of how complex and detailed they may be.

As a family-run operation Specialized Travel Services understands the importance of providing each of our clients the friendly and individual attention they deserve. We are fully aware that for many people, traveling to Ireland can be a once-ina-lifetime experience and we want to make certain that it will be an exceptional one for them.

We look forward to welcoming your group to the Emerald Isle!

For more information please contact Katie Daly at katie.daly@special-ireland.com or call 1-800 664-7474

Planning An Event In Ireland?

While you’re taking care of business... we’ll take care of you

That’s what we do best. Our team of on-site planners will seamlessly handle your every need from the moment your group arrives in Ireland to their departure home. And we do so with the professionalism and dedication you would expect from a company that understands the importance of a job well done.

HERE IS WHAT SPECIALIZED TRAVEL SERVICES CAN OFFER YOUR COMPANY: • • • • •

A team of Ireland-only specialists with offices and staff in Dublin, Cork and New York City A proud family-owned company serving visitors to Ireland since 1974 A dedicated, experienced and imaginative staff working around the clock to make your event a resounding success An extensive portfolio of travel services guaranteed to satisfy the needs of the most demanding client A fleet of 50 vehicles and depots in Dublin and Cork

1-800-664-7474 • www.special-ireland.com New York: 718-745-9146 • Cork: +353(0)21-439-1996 • Dublin: +353(0)1-278-2677 6

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BUSINESS CLASS TO I R E L A N D Experience the luxury of flying transatlantic in Business Class.

We’ll cater for your client’s every need on the ground and in the air.

For more information visit Aerlingus.ca

WHEN YOU TRAVEL WITH AER LINGUS YOU CAN ENJOY CHOICE, CONVENIENCE, A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE AND GREAT VALUE. Aer Lingus now offers year-round service from Canada.

With great fares and easy connections from 16 Canadian cities getting your clients to Europe is easier than ever.

TRANSATLANTIC BUSINESS Exceptional care, delicious cuisine, top class entertainment and comfort all blend together to leave you feeling satisfied and invigorated when you travel anywhere across the Aer Lingus network. Aer Lingus is the smart choice for your Business travel.

Whether you’re travelling to/from Canada for business or pleasure, Aer Lingus Business Class will cater for your every need. ❯ Designated check-in area including Priority Baggage Service ❯ Complimentary lounge access ❯ Three free Check in Bags ❯ Exclusive cabin with 60° lie-flat sleeper seats. It’s your all-important bed when it’s time to rest your head and get a great night’s sleep. And this lie flat sleeper seat won’t disappoint.

You’ll arrive fully rested and ready for whatever your day holds. ❯ Enjoy the latest on-demand in-flight entertainment featuring movies, television and radio, with your personal screen on flights to/from Canada. ❯ Finest Dining – Our Business Class passengers can enjoy the finest choice of restaurant quality food offerings appropriate to the time of day. Our wines are specially selected to complement our gourmet food offering, enhancing the taste and giving you a truly top restaurant experience.

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DELIVERING IRELAND IN STYLE Dear Canadian Planner, No person or company stays lucky for 43 years. We must be doing something right. Our DMC services have been going and growing since 1972 when my father started the business. I bought him out in 1989, and over the years we have molded, learned, planned and grown into the DMC partnership I always dreamed about.

Ireland has so much to offer the discerning Canadian market and at such great value now.

The air access from Toronto to Dublin is spectacular and the Montreal market has even greater opportunity to explore west and southern Ireland with Dublin flights via Heathrow and Paris connecting to Shannon and Cork!

We promise you close attention to your specific RFP, a very speedy response time with competitive and creative programs, and your own dedicated account executive, who will handle each piece of business from start to finish with personal pride and attention.

We’ve made it even easier for you to manage the time difference by having a TorontoDerek Wallace- Wallace Travel Group based Canadian vice-president of sales—the excellent Dallyce Macas, Platinum DMC Collection.

Let us prove that we can deliver on our promises the next time Ireland becomes an option for one of your programs. We’ll help you win the business and deliver in style!

• Please feel free to email me direct at Derek@wtg.ie or connect to my cell via local number 1.888.970.0426.

• All the best, • Derek Wallace, Wallace Travel Group

Dallyce Macas- Platinum DMC

The Leading DMC in Ireland

Wallace Travel Group is one of Ireland’s leading DMC partners dedicated to special group services such as incentives, meetings and special interest program design. We have been providing superior personal service and partnership to the world’s most discerning group buyers for over 40 years… not bad for a young team!

Our ongoing success continues to be built on these guarantees •Close attention to all details in your RFP •Rapid response time •Request-specific program •proposals and suggestions •Creative & Imaginative Proposals

•Competitive & Honest Quotations •Personal Account Executive from Cradle to Grave •We use only the very best English & French speaking incentive quality Guides

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Platinum DMC

We are proud to be represented in Canada by Dallyce Macas at dallyce@platinumdmc.com Why not call me directly on local call 1.888.970.0426 CALL +353 1 8347888 EMAIL Derek@wtg.ie OR VISIT www.wallacetravelgroup.ie

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