32 THE BIG TRAVEL TRADE EVENT 2019
Every year The BIG Travel Trade Event, organised by Northern Ireland Travel News, gets bigger and better...
ND every year praise from exhibitors and agents becomes even more fulsome – and deserved. This year’s event at The Hilton, Templepatrick, the eighth, had the biggest attendance of Travel Trade members and agents, the largest number of participating companies, and the best selection of travel prizes to be won.
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In addition, there was a hugely successful Blue Insurance Alternative Awards, a phenomenally popular Jet2holidays Got Talent show on the Tuesday evening and the popular Northern Ireland Travel New Golf Classic event on the Wednesday, not to mention a stunning Gala Dinner to round off two days of jam packed sponsored events, meetings, training, networking and of course two exhibition sessions. One of the major participants at The BIG Travel Trade Event was leading cruise company Royal Caribbean which annually sponsors a highly popular lunch for travel agents.
Jennifer Callister, Head of Ireland for Royal Caribbean, was speaking for many when she described it as a “fantastic event.” “I can’t believe it is over for another year. The NITN staff and the hotel staff could not have been more helpful and the food at the lunch was excellent.”
Dermot Merrigan, Head of Passenger Sales for Irish Ferries, said he was impressed by the performance of all the Travel News team in pulling things together. “It was quite evident that all of the wonderful Travel News team was on their game and everything seemed seamless and co-ordinated. It was a very professional job.”
Nicola Harper, National Account Manager, Beds with Ease, said she thoroughly enjoyed her fi rst ever Big Event.
“It was my fi rst time attending the event and I have to say not only have I thoroughly enjoyed it but I also made some great contacts. Everything was really well organised and it was the perfect mix of business and pleasure.”
Perhaps some of the most fulsome praise came from a regular to the Big Event, the popular Katerina Bomshtein, from Gran Canaria.
Katerina, who was a popular ‘Legend’ award winner at the Blue Insurance Alternative Awards, said she was “over the moon” with the whole event.
She said it was fantastic and organised to perfection. Katerina said the golf day was perfect, “everything about it was excellent and of course the weather was better than expected”. “On the fi rst day I had so many travel agents coming to speak to me with a good fl ow of agents, I also took the opportunity to chat with the suppliers as many tour operators have of course Gran Canaria in their programme.”
Northern Ireland Travel News Events Manager Paula McAreavey said she was particularly pleased by the turnout of travel agents.
“It was the biggest number of agents over the two days and exhibitors – and suppliers were well pleased. There were some really outstandingly successful features such as the ‘Jet2holidays Got Talent’ show on the Tuesday evening and the Blue Insurance Alternative Awards at the Gala Dinner. The Golf Classic was also popular once again with players and sponsors – and of course the weather turned out to be a lot better than was forecast. Roll on 2020!”
Tom Maher and colleague from JMG Cruises are pictured updated agents on the latest news from JMG
LEFT: Joanne Mannis of JG
Michelle Ryan of Royal Caribbean International is pictured on her stand with Delia Aston of Clubworld Travel and Mary Murphy of Oasis Travel
Collection/ MOB Hotels is pictured on her stand in the Exhibition Hall at The BIG Travel Trade Event 2019 networking with agents
Blaithin O’Donnell and Bernadette Goldsmith of Air Canada are pictured with a group of travel agents in the Exhibiton Hall at The BIG Event
RIGHT: Caitriona Toner of
American Airlines is pictured on the American Holidays/
American Airlines stand with Amy McFadden of American Holidays
Charlie McNally of Bradley International Airport is pictured on his stand with Julie Magill of Travel Solutions and Rosemary McQuade
LEFT: Carrie Day is pictured on the
Intrepid stand at The BIG Travel Trade Event 2019 chatting to agents
Pauline Thompson and Andrew Bolton of Celebrity Cruises are pictured with David Taylor, WTC
Jonathan Adair of BIG Travel Trade Event organisers Northern Ireland Travel News opens the Exhibition to agents on Day One
Arminda Delgado de Leon of TurismoLanzarote is pictured chatting to agents on her stand at The BIG Event 2019
LEFT: Rachel Deardan of
Botanico Hotels, Siam Park, Loro Parque and Poema Del Mar is pictured with agents
Joanne Robinson of Spring Hotels is pictured on her stand at The BIG Travel Trade Event 2019
Aishling McLouglin of Iberostar Hotels & Resorts is pictured with Dierdre Laughlin of Clubworld Travel and Simon Thomas O’Neill of Oasis Travel
LEFT: Maura Moloney and
Dave Cromwell of Dublin Airport are pictured on their stand at The BIG Travel Trade Event 2019
Matt Bates of Kansas/ Oklahoma is pictured on his stand in the Exhibition Hall
Geraldine McFadden of Aqua Suites is pictured updating agents at her stand
July/August 2019 Travel News PRAISE POURS IN FOR THE BIG
John Docherty and Rachel Mould of Travelsphere/Just You are pictured on their stand with Mike Preedy of Revere Travel and Vincent McCaff erty of Independent Travel Experts
The team from Indulgent Escapes by Jet2holidays are pictured at their outdoor stand on the patio at The BIG Travel Trade Event 2019
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