Advisory Board

The advisory board comprises seven member agents who, between them, represent the interests of the general membership and who, in conjunction with the management team, define the policies and supplier preferences of the group. The board positions are voluntary, so board members donate freely of their time and expertise throughout the year in order to help drive the collective agenda of members. The board meets periodically throughout the year. The advisory board currently consists of the following members:

Carolyn Davis

Liberty Travel, Letterkenny

In 2002 and with over thirty years’ experience working in the travel and hospitality sectors in the UK, Cyprus and Ireland, Carolyn established Liberty Travel in Letterkenny. The agency has since grown in size and reputation to become Donegal’s leading travel agency. Her team of six staff has vast experience and love to travel themselves, bringing a wealth of knowledge to the client. Carolyn has embraced digital marketing and social media and identifies this as an important strategy for the way forward. Carolyn is the ‘Travel Section Expert’ for Highland Radio, Irelands leading independent radio station.

Maria Dilworth

Blackpool Travel, Cork

Maria has been involved in the travel industry since 1976 and opened the doors of Blackpool Travel in 2000.

After many years of living and breathing travel, Maria took a sabbatical from the industry and earned her BCL Law Degree from UCC and practised as a solicitor specialising in Employment Law. Maria made a return to the travel industry in recent years and favours America and Spain as her holiday destinations!

Michael Bowe Bowe Travel, Thurles

Michael Bowe Jnr. is the 4th Generation of the Bowe family to run Bowe Travel. First established in 1906 by Michael’s great- grandfather — it has continued to thrive down through the intervening decades and is based in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Michael was reared in the travel industry and like the rest of us, loves to travel!

Andrew Lynch Travel Advisors, Ratoath

Andrew opened his own agency in 2012 Travel Advisors. Travel Advisors is an award winning agency that offers a professional and personal travel service. Andrew has over 28 years’ experience within the Travel Industry and has worked for well-established travel companies over the years, gaining his wealth of knowledge. He enjoys travelling with his family and friends and has a big passion for sport.

Clare Dunne

The Travel Broker, Dublin

Clare began her travel career with Aer Lingus in 1979 and since then has experienced many aspects of the travel business. She established her own independent travel company The Travel Broker in 1994, providing corporate, leisure and incentive travel services to a wide range of customers, in Ireland and abroad, offline and online. She has also developed and taught several ‘What Do Travel Agents Do’ introductory courses for job seekers. Clare has served as President of Network Ireland both in Dublin and Nationally. She served as President of ITAA from 2012-2014. Clare is currently a member of the board of ITAA, on the committee of Clontarf Business Association and on the Advisory Board of Travel Centres. She is also an active member of Dublin Chamber of Commerce and North Dublin Business Network.

Jeff Collins

Best4travel group

Jeff began his travel career in the early 90’s, when he worked for Delta airlines for 10 years —based mainly at Dublin airport. From there, he progressed to senior positions within both American holidays and needahotel.com . In 2005, Jeff, together with his father Jim, established www.globehotels.com as a wholesale trade-only worldwide accommodation website. In 2010, Jeff established the Best4travel group which now boasts 10 retail shops, a home working division and an online team . The company currently employs close to 60 staff and is ample proof that people still need travel professionals to arrange their travel requirements .

John Barrett

Magic Vacations, Kinsale Co. Cork

A Marketing & French graduate John started his career with EuroDisney back in April 1992. Magic Vacations are an award winning agency based in Kinsale and employ 8 people. An early adapter of Digital media they launched their highly successful MVTV travel series in 2020. John loves to discover new destinations and is very passionate about travel.