Luxury Australian travel agents discover Ireland

31 May, 2024

Seven Australian travel agents are visiting Ireland this week, as guests of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland – in partnership with Travel Associates (one of the biggest luxury tour operators in Australia). 

The travel agents – from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne – are all specialists in luxury travel and members of Virtuoso (a high-profile travel agent network) who design unique, luxury travel itineraries for their Australian clients. The aim of the visit is to familiarise the travel advisors with our superb luxury tourism offering, so that when they return home, they will be better informed and more enthusiastic than ever about Ireland when advising their clients about planning and booking their luxury holidays here. 

Sofia Hansson, Tourism Ireland’s Manager for Australia and New Zealand, said: “We’re delighted these specialist luxury travel agents have taken time out of their busy schedules to come and experience our luxury tourism offering – including our boutique hotels and luxury resorts – and see for themselves what Ireland has to offer their clients. Our aim is that when they return home, they will be more knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the destination, helping to secure a greater share of their business for Ireland.”

During their time here, the travel agents will do site inspections at some of our top luxury hotels, including Ballyfin Demesne, Cashel Palace Hotel, Castlemartyr Resort, Sheen Falls Lodge, The Europe Hotel & Resort, Dromoland Castle, Adare Manor, Mount Juliet, The Merrion and The Shelbourne.

As well as the luxury hotels, their action-packed itinerary also includes Coolmore Stud, Midleton Distillery Experience and a cruise on the Shannon Estuary with Sionnan Luxury Cruises, with a stop on Scattery Island. They’ve also been enjoying a sheepdog demonstration at Caherconnell Stone Fort, a falconry experience at Dromoland Castle, an archery session at Adare Manor, an equestrian experience at Mount Juliet and a food tour in Dublin with Fab Food Trails. 

Luxury travel agents from Australia with Viktoria Albrecht, Tourism Ireland (left); and Luisea Nic Lochlainn, By Appointment DMC (right), at The Europe Hotel & Resort.