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About this Conference

This unmissable Irish Tourism Conference, organised by the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) and proudly sponsored by Fáilte Ireland in association with Tourism Ireland and AIB, will take place on Monday, September 18th 2023 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone. It will be hosted once again by broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald and ITIC will launch its roadmap for the future Vision 2030: An Industry Strategy for Tourism Growth. A stellar line up of speakers, as well as tourism industry leaders, feature on our agenda below.

With demand strong but supply compromised, what state is tourism really in?

Can industry overcome the dual challenges of sustainability and competitiveness?

Will the Midlands be transformed by Just Transition funding?

What does the future hold for Irish tourism?

These and other questions will be asked and answered on September 18th.

Conference Agenda

10:00
Conference opened by MC and Broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald

10:05
Opening address by ITIC Chair Elaina Fitzgerald Kane and launch of Vision 2030: An Industry Strategy for Tourism Growth

10:15
Video: State of the Tourism Season & Just Transition Gamechanger for Midlands

10:20
Minister Catherine Martin in discussion with Dearbhail

10:45
Panel: Where is Irish tourism now?
Dearbhail in discussion with Paul Kelly (Fáilte Ireland), Siobhan McManamy (Tourism Ireland), Jim Power (Economist) and Sean O’Driscoll (iNua Collection)

11:30
Coffee break

12:00
Broadcaster and personality Patrick Kielty discusses the transformative power of tourism as a force for good – speech and discussion with Dearbhail

12:45
Special Recognition Award for tourism industry hero

13:00
Lunch

14:00
Panel: Can Irish tourism meet its sustainability responsibilities?
Dearbhail in discussion with Anita Mendiratta (UNWTO), Cathy Bryce (AIB) and Geraldine Enright (Cliffs of Moher)

14:40
Video: How the Good Friday Agreement changed tourism on the island and lessons for the future

14:45
Dearbhail in discussion with former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern

15:30
The Last Word: Dearbhail talks to ITIC CEO Eoghan O’Mara Walsh

15:40
Conference concludes

*Subject to change

Speakers

Dearbhail McDonald

Moderator

Elaina Fitzgerald Kane

Chairperson, ITIC

Catherine Martin TD

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltact, Sport & Media (TBC)

Paul Kelly

CEO, Fáilte Ireland

Siobhan McManamy

Interim CEO, Tourism Ireland

Jim Power

Economist – Jim Power Economics

Sean O’Driscoll

CEO, The iNUA Collection

Patrick Kielty

Comedian, Broadcaster

Anita Mendiratta

Founder & President, Anita Mendiratta & Associates

Bertie Ahern

Former Taoiseach

Eoghan O’Mara Walsh

CEO, ITIC

*More speakers to follow