April/May 2025
www.nitravelnews.com
Celebrity Cruises Appoints New UK and Ireland Sales Director
Dublin to Nashville – Travel Trade Celebrate Aer Lingus Route Launch!
IN celebration of Aer Lingus’ new direct service from Dublin to Nashville, Aer Lingus, Tennessee Tourism and Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp hosted an evening
of southern hospitality and
entertainment ahead of the route’s launch. The new route will operate four weekly
flights on Aer Lingus’ new state-of-the-art Airbus A321XLR aircraft, connecting Ireland to one of the fastest-growing cities in the US, renowned as “Music City” for its deep-rooted musical heritage. Hosted in Whelan’s in Dublin, attendees
were treated to authentic American cuisine, drink, and music from Grammy Award winner Jon Randall, and four-time Grammy Award nominee Jessi Alexander. Jon Randall, whose songs have been recorded by the likes of Brad Paisley, Alison Krauss and Blake Shelton and Jessi Alexander who wrote Miley Cyrus’ ‘The Climb’, and hit songs for other country artists such as Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, and Lainey Wilson.
On the evening, NI Travel News’ Danielle Anderson won two return flights to Nashville with Aer Lingus, a four-night stay at the Bobby Hotel, tickets to the Grand Ole Opry alongside an attraction which grants entry to a host of popular and much-loved Nashville attractions including a chance to experience a Mint Julep Tours and Activity. Danielle Anderson recounted the evening,
“It was fantastic to be invited to Whelan’s in Dublin to celebrate the launch of the new direct Nashville route starting on the 12th April 2025. The delicious hospitality, venue and incredibly talented music really gave the speak easy vibes of Tennessee! Nashville has always been on my bucket list, and I can’t believe how incredibly lucky I am winning such an amazing prize. I am looking forward to experiencing the sights and sounds of Nashville first hand and making some epic memories! Thanks again to Aer Lingus and Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation (CVC) for a memorable evening!”
Travel Counsellors announces Sara Davies MBE as Growth and Entrepreneurship Partner
TRAVEL Counsellors has appointed entrepreneur and businesswoman Sara Davies MBE as the brand’s first Growth and Entrepreneurship Partner. In this new role, Sara will provide tailored coaching on entrepreneurship to the company’s 2,100-strong community of business owners, as well as prospective franchisees, helping them launch and scale their businesses. Her support will include a series of webinars and exclusive in-person events, offering mentorship, training
and guidance to help Travel Counsellors launch and grow their businesses. The webinars will be split into two separate series. The first programme, ‘Go Beyond’, starting in March, will be a masterclass series designed to equip existing Travel Counsellors with actionable strategies and practical tools to help them scale their businesses in a competitive market. The second series, ‘Take the leap’
is centred at aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start a new business and become a franchisee with Travel
IN a strategic move following last month’s management reshuffle, Celebrity Cruises has announced the appointment of Nicola McNeish as the new UK and Ireland Sales Director, effective immediately. This follows Claire Stirrup’s recent promotion to UK and EMEA Managing Director. Nicola McNeish, who has been with Celebrity Cruises for 11 years, expressed
her enthusiasm for the
new role. “I feel a huge sense of pride stepping into this position and helping Celebrity elevate the premium travel category,” McNeish stated. In her new capacity, she will report directly to Stirrup.
As the new sales director, McNeish aims to strengthen the company’s relationships with trade partners, which she believes are crucial to Celebrity Cruises’ success. “We have a hugely exciting year ahead with the launch of our new ship, Celebrity Xcel, in November, along with more news on our sixth Edge Series ship and our entry into river cruising,” she noted. McNeish is committed to maximising these opportunities and ensuring that travel partners benefit from these landmark
launches. She plans to
work closely with her team to provide industry-leading tools and support to travel agents, aiding them in effective sales strategies. Reflecting on her tenure with the company, McNeish said, “I’ve been fortunate to witness Celebrity Cruises’ growth over the past 11 years. I’m excited to start the next chapter with an amazing team supporting me.” Celebrity Cruises has confirmed that it is actively recruiting for the UK and Ireland Head of Sales position, which McNeish has vacated.
Counsellors. Sara will provide advice on building confidence, planning for success and implementing key strategies to help new business owners hit the ground running from day one. Having started her crafts business in
her university bedroom, Sara went on to build a business with a turnover of $34m a year. Now a public champion of business, Sara is passionate about supporting entrepreneurialism and helping others to develop the tips, tricks and lessons she has learned in building a multi-million-pound business from
TRADE NEWS | 67
Gold Medal Launches Eight Apprenticeships for Aspiring Travel Professionals
GOLD Medal, the flagship brand of dnata Travel Group UK, has announced the launch of a new apprenticeship program,
seeking eight candidates eager to begin careers in the travel industry. The program, set to last one year, offers successful applicants a chance to earn a Level 3 Travel Consultant qualification while gaining practical experience with an award- winning B2B tour operator. In collaboration with A S Training, Gold
Medal will provide these apprenticeships, allowing participants to earn while they learn. Apprentices will work alongside experienced professionals, receive guidance from team managers, and engage in tasks such as crafting tailor- made holidays, fielding customer calls, and meeting sales targets.
Azamara to Give Away VIP Trip to Barcelona for ‘Sisters Meet’ Event
AZAMARA Cruises is offering UK and Ireland travel agents the exclusive opportunity to win a VIP trip to Barcelona to witness the landmark ‘sisters meet’ event, as a thank you for their continued hard work and dedication. For the first time ever, Azamara Journey, Azamara Onward, and Azamara Quest will arrive in Barcelona simultaneously on 26th May 2025, marking a unique occasion in the cruise line’s history. To celebrate, Azamara is giving 10 travel agents the chance to experience this event first-hand with a VIP trip to Barcelona.
scratch. Sara Davies shared her excitement
about the role, saying: “Helping ambitious entrepreneurs build and grow their business is incredibly important to me. Being a Travel Counsellors customer myself, I’ve seen first-hand the dedication, passion, and support that defines this business. It’s truly inspiring to witness how they uplift one another to achieve success, and I look forward to sharing my life lessons and perspectives on entrepreneurship.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
