Tourism Ireland

A successful week at IMEX America, the largest trade show for the Business Events sector in the United States! Alongside Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland, as part of the Meet in Ireland team, we showcased the island of Ireland's exceptional Business Events offering to leading overseas buyers in Las Vegas last week. With 39 tourism companies from the island of Ireland participating and around 2,000 commercial meetings taking place, the event provided a valuable opportunity to build relationships, generate future business and strengthen Ireland's reputation as a premier Business Events destination. Tourism Ireland’s goal is to enable 7,500 commercial Business Events meetings this year – connecting tourism operators from Ireland with overseas buyers to grow Business Events and support businesses across the island. Business travel is high value and often midweek and off season by its nature, thereby aligning with our strategy to grow overseas tourism revenue outside of the peak summer season.

Incredibly proud of Ruth Moran, Maggie Quinn, Jenna Chapman, Bernard, Eileen, Alison Metcalfe and all our US team for all they did to secure the broadcast of the NBC Today Show from Kenmare yesterday and all they did to maximise the opportunity for the island of Ireland. Thanks to the strong relationships they’ve built over many years, this opportunity has brought the magic of Ireland to millions of viewers, gaining countless new fans for the island of Ireland and creating memories that will last a long time. A huge thank you to Siobhan Naughton and Brian Loughnane at Sheen Falls Lodge for being such exceptional partners and showcasing the very best of Irish hospitality. Thanks too to all the industry partners from across the island of Ireland who extended the warmest of welcomes to the NBC Today Show team as they broadcast from across the island over the last few weeks. Together, we’ve proved that the island of Ireland is truly a world-class destination for all seasons. We look forward to welcoming many more US visitors in the months and years to come.

🍁 Bringing you a slice of autumn life on the island of Ireland. Across the countryside, forests and parklands shift through shades of gold, orange and red, while cooler days make it the perfect season for woodland walks, scenic drives and exploring historic towns and cities. It’s also a season packed with reasons to travel. Harvest time brings apples, oysters and other seasonal flavours to menus, while festivals fill the calendar and the island’s ancient celebration of Samhain adds a little extra atmosphere as Halloween approaches. Add in quieter trails, cosy pubs, crackling fires and landscapes made even more dramatic by the changing weather, and there’s plenty to see and do.

We are so excited that the TODAY show will broadcast live from Kenmare today. It’s a truly exceptional opportunity to showcase the island of Ireland in the United States. NBC’s TODAY Show attracts millions of viewers, giving huge visibility for our island in one of our most important tourism markets. It will be a special four-hour programme, with the star presenters – including Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Jenna Bush Hager – from America's most watched morning television programme set to take viewers across the island of Ireland, sharing stories of our people, iconic locations and rich culture with millions of viewers across the United States. Some of the anchors arrived here earlier this week and have been capturing footage here over the past few days – from Belfast to Kerry and lots of gorgeous locations in between – which will air as part of the four-hour show. We can't wait to see it!

Transatlantic tourism - where better to discuss than Ireland? Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise Tourism and Employment Peter Burke welcomed delegates to the Skift and European Travel Commission summit on this topic hosted with Tourism Ireland. >130 leaders travelled from across Europe, North America and the island of Ireland to join us. I valued today's summit as we looked at trends, insights, shared experiences and opportunities with delegates from across continents in Portmarnock. …Speaking of transatlantic tourism, watch out for a unique spotlight tomorrow, as NBC’s #TodayShow broadcasts to the US, having filmed segments at multiple locations island-wide from Kerry to Belfast this past week. We're excited for the most watched US morning show to inspire future US visitors. Ruth Moran and the Tourism Ireland team are on the ground with the crew at Sheen Falls. Photos: with Minister Peter Burke, Vice Chair at Tourism Ireland Karen Sugrue Hennessy, Skift CEO & Founder Rafat Ali, CEO of the European Travel Commission Eduardo Santander Fernández-Portillo PhD; Portmarnock beach views. With special thanks also to Mayor Tony Murphy and Declan Power at Fingal County Council. #europeantravelcommission #skift #transatlanticsummit #tourismireland

A hundred thousand welcomes and a few more reasons to visit. ☘️ Ireland has been named the friendliest country in Europe and one of the friendliest in the world in the Condé Nast Traveller's 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. There’s plenty more to celebrate across the island. Belfast placed among the best city break destinations, while Cork was named one of Europe’s friendliest cities. For days by the sea, readers chose Ballyheigue, County Kerry, as Ireland’s best beach, followed by Barleycove and Sherkin Island, both in County Cork. And for a memorable stay? Adare Manor, Ashford Castle, Dromoland Castle, Kilkea Castle and Sheen Falls Lodge were placed among the best resorts in Europe and beyond. Ballyfin Demesne topped the best hotels in Ireland list, with all ten giving you somewhere special to check in: 1. Ballyfin Demesne, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands 2. The Westbury, Dublin 3. Dylan Hotel, Dublin 4. The Merrion Hotel, Dublin 5. The Killarney Park, Wild Atlantic Way 6. Hayfield Manor, Ireland’s Ancient East 7. The Fitzwilliam Hotel, Dublin 8. Cashel Palace Hotel, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands 9. Number 31, Dublin 10. Cliff House Hotel, Ireland’s Ancient East Which of these are you adding to your Ireland itinerary?

Scroll-stopping views that could only be on the island of Ireland ☘️ There’s plenty to take in, from the soaring cliffs of Slieve League to the mountain-framed waters of Coumshingaun Lough. Follow the bends of the Gap of Dunloe, linger on Streedagh Beach and picture yourself looking out to sea from Mussenden Temple. Swipe through and save a few for your next trip. Which one made you stop? 📍The island of Ireland

Always a pleasure to join Northern Ireland's talented hoteliers at #HospitalityExchange. With BBC's Mark Simpson interviewing, topics included air and sea connectivity, coolcations, AI, and the power of collaboration to help a destination shine. Overseas visitor spend to Northern Ireland grew +100% over the past 15 years, with ambitions to double again by 2035. In the hotel sector, room capacity to welcome visitors topped 10,000 for the first time, with a healthy pipeline ahead, and plans to ensure demand fills supply. Well done to Vicky Green on her successful term as Northern Ireland Hotels Federation president and congratulations to President Nicky Cassidy as he shapes the term ahead. CEO Janice Gault creates an impactful and enjoyable event each year - congratulations to Janice and her members on the momentum and impact in the sector. I was grateful to hear from all the other speakers this morning: Janice Gault Aoife Roche MBA Adriaan Bartels Scot Turner Andrew Webb Dr Tara Shine Laura McCorry Kate Sherry Stephen Cotter Eoghan O'Mara Walsh Adrian Patton Tom Barrett Judith Owens MBE Catriona Taylor Seamus McGuckin Chris Ross #tourismireland #tourismisteamwork #hospitalityexchange #tourismnorthernireland #nihf

Want to know where Halloween really began? 🎃 Long before Halloween became a global celebration, Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival celebrated in Ireland, marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was a time of fire, feasting, folklore and a connection to the ‘Otherworld’. 🔥 Lighting fires: Communities gathered around great fires to mark Samhain and welcome the changing season. 🎭 Masks and disguises: People wore costumes and disguises to scare away spirits roaming at Samhain. 🎃 Carving turnips: Before pumpkins became the Halloween icon we know today, turnips were hollowed out and carved into eerie lanterns. 🍞 Barmbrack: This traditional fruit bread contained hidden objects believed to offer clues about what the year ahead might bring. Today, you can discover the story of Samhain through Halloween festivals, ancient sites and celebrations across the island of Ireland.

Are you graduating in 2027? Your career could be about to go global. We are looking for the next generation of talent to join our Global Graduate Programme. It's a chance to get creative ideas in front of global audiences and to gain real experience. Ready to make an impact? Keep an eye on our LinkedIn and website (the careers section of www.tourismireland.com) for information coming soon.