Irish Travel Agents Association

29/11/2024

Click&Go Holidays announces new customer-focussed structure.

Click&Go Holidays has announced a new internal structure designed to build upon the travel agency’s focus on customer service. The restructuring includes two new roles, two new hires, and two internal promotions.

Congratulations to Pamela Hand and Melissa Fagan on their promotions and welcome to Fiona Foster and John Grehan as they join the Click&Go team.

Pamela Hand and Melissa Fagan are graduates of the ITAA Leadership Excellence in the Travel Industry Programme. We are delighted to see them progressing in leadership roles following the course.

Check out www.ITAA.ie for full details.

29/11/2024

No better time then a rainy Friday to book free tickets to the Holiday World Show

OMG! Our Black Friday sale is still going! From now until Tuesday December 3rd you can get your tickets to Holiday World Show COMPLETELY FREE!! Just head to the link in our bio and use promo code: HWSDublinBlackFriday

Holiday World Show Dublin is returning to the RDS Simmonscourt on the 24th to 26th of January 2025

22/11/2024

The ITAA will be there, looking forward to seeing everyone at the show.

It's Getting Close!!!
Holiday World Show will be taking place at the RDS Simmonscourt from Friday 24th until Sunday 26th this January!

✈️❤️🧳🕶

22/11/2024

Congratulations to the graduates of the second ITAA Leadership Excellence in the Travel Industry programme!

Certificates were presented by Minister of State for Transport James Lawless at a special ceremony on the 5th of November.

The programme has been developed by the ITAA, Positive2Work Skillnet and travel industry experts.

05/11/2024

Beautiful setting for today’s ‘Leadership and Excellence in the Travel Industry’ programme graduation.
Congratulations to all recipients.
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25/10/2024

ITAA CEO, Clare Dunne, attended the 2024 Consular Forum, yesterday at the invitation of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The theme of which was Educate, Explore and TravelWise. Clare is pictured here with Fiona Penollar of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

25/10/2024

Jean and Clare were delighted to be guests of the Positive2Work Skillnet at the Skillnet Ireland 25 years celebration event last night in the RDS.
The Postive2Work Skillnet and the ITAA have worked together to provide relevant and industry specific training to member Travel Agents.

23/10/2024

ITAA Conference day three : Excursions
The good weather continued and delegates had the opportunity to enjoy the sun and experience some more of what Almería has to offer.

Parque Natural Cabo de Gata : Delegates got to see the Natural Park by land and sea. With a boat trip a 4x4 tour and the opportunity for a swim!

Another group took a visit to see what lies under the 'plastic sea' of greenhouses in Almería that are so vast they can be seen from space. Lola gave a fascinating insight to the protected agriculture and new technologies that make the Almería region so important as a producer of vegetables. The group also got to taste test the delicious produce.

23/10/2024

ITAA Conference day two: Conference Day
The conference theme was: Relevant, Innovative, Strong, Essential (RISE), focusing on industry insights and strategies for future growth and global payment solutions affecting the Irish travel industry.

A stress-relieving mobility routine was included, alongside discussions on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and sustainability’s role in travel.

Key topics addressed included sustainability, artificial intelligence, its implications for travel maximising business value and airline retailing trends, with ITAA president Angela Walsh from Cork providing the opening and closing remarks.

Speakers included Fernando Giminéz from Almería Tourism, Laura Pena new director of the Spanish tourist board in Dublin who stressed trade collaboration), and Aranzazú Martín from the Andalusia government.

Discussions also covered the consumer payment side of technology, with insights from Stuart Kitching and Mark Skehill regarding payment challenges and risk profiles. On the B2B side, delegates heard from Roberto da Re of Travel Ledger. Clare de Bono discussed a newly released white paper on AI and travel issued by Amadeus.

Presenters highlighted the importance of travel agents, the impact of NDC (New Distribution Capability), and cost-saving opportunities from companies like Paxport. Major Travel announced their launch in the Irish market.

Angela Walsh concluded the event, reiterating the conference’s themes of relevance, Innovation and strength.

Clare Dunne, CEO of the ITAA said, “Today was a focused and business like conference with many solutions on offer which the travel agents will bring back to their businesses. The conference gave a valuable insight into an underrated part of Andalucía which many were seeing for the very first time.“
Vive Andalucía

20/10/2024

18/10/2024

ITAA Conference day one. Delegates arrive to sunny Almería, the golf day takes place and final preparations for the conference day, followed by welcome dinner hosted by Almería tourism office and golf day and prizes sponsored by Amadeus. With the top prize from Irish Ferries. Vive Andalucía

15/10/2024

Some ITAA Conference Delegates have arrived early in Almería to enjoy the special light and sunshine that can be found in this beautiful part of the Andalucía coast. The rest of the delegates will arrive over the next two days and the conference day will take place on Friday.

14/10/2024

Congratulations to ITAA Member, Shandon Travel, on 50 years in business!

In October 1974, Michael Doorley opened his very first Shandon Travel outlet on Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork, employing just one staff member. During the next 50 years, Shandon Travel expanded taking over two other travel companies with offices in Dublin Airport, Clonakilty and Bantry. The Shandon Travel HQ remains at its Grand Parade location, just opposite the English Market. While their two West Cork locations trade under the West Cork Travel brand enjoying a very loyal customer base.

Shandon’s principal, Michael Doorley has served five times as president of the Irish Travel Agents Association in 1982-84, 2004-06 and 2020-21, driving many of the initiatives that define the travel industry in Ireland today.

Read more on ITAA.ie
https://itaa.ie/2024/10/14/shandon-travel-fifty-years-at-the-helm-of-travel-in-ireland

Congratulations Michael and team from the ITAA!

10/10/2024

What lies under the 'plastic sea' of greenhouses in Almería that are so vast they can be seen from space?

ITAA Conference delegates will have the opportunity to see under the plastic into the greenhouses to the protected agriculture and new technologies that make the Almería region so important as a producer of vegetables. The tour finishes with some tasting of local produce! 🍅🫑🥒

08/10/2024

Almería is home to Cabo de Gata Níjar geopark, the largest protected area on the Mediterranean coast. The mountain range protects small beaches and coves and gives rise to fifty kilometres of the best preserved rugged coast on the European Mediterranean. ITAA conference delegates will have the opportunity to see this area. -

04/10/2024

ITAA Conference delegates will be staying in the luxurious Barceló Cabo de Gata, Almería, Andalucía later this month! The Hotel has spacious rooms, fabulous pools and access to the beach as well as excellent conference facilities for our business sessions

03/10/2024

The Irish Travel Agents Association Annual Conference is taking place later this month in the Jewel of the Mediterranean : Almería, Andalucía, Spain. We delighted to be holding our 2024 our conference here and are looking forward to experiencing all that this amazing city and surrounding area has to offer – .
https://itaa.ie/2024/10/03/itaa-annual-conference-taking-place-in-the-jewel-of-the-mediterranean