US travel experts on whistle-stop tour of Kildare attractions

Above: Peter McMahon, Fáilte Ireland; Laura Wills, Dickinson College; Heidi Quiram, St. Olaf College; Peggy Freeman, Tourism Ireland; Jean Anne Hattler, Duquesne University; Jamie Butler, University of Alabama; Brice Bachelor-Hall, Princeton University; and CJ Himberg, Go Ahead Tours.

A group of American travel planners – responsible for making the travel arrangements for a variety of alumni groups – has been visiting Kildare and Ireland this week with Go Ahead Tours, a leading tour operator. They were here as guests of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.

The visiting group undertook an action-packed fact-finding visit to Ireland’s Ancient East. While in Kildare, their itinerary included a guided tour of the Irish National Stud & Gardens. They also enjoyed dinner and an overnight stay in the Cliff at Lyons in Celbridge.

Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s Head of North America, said: “Tourism Ireland was delighted to invite Go Ahead Tours and this group of American alumni group travel planners to visit Kildare and Ireland. We believe it is extremely important for travel decision-makers such as these to experience for themselves the high standard of our tourism offering and the many things to see and do here for visiting groups.

“We have seen really good growth in North American visitor numbers so far again this year, with the most recent CSO figures for January to September 2017 showing growth of +18.6% – an extra 259,100 North American visitors compared with the same nine-month period last year. Tourism Ireland is rolling out a busy programme of promotions aimed at boosting late season travel to the island of Ireland and at positioning us well for 2018.”