Last weekend Meet In Ireland played host to two successful Corporate Familiarization trips, to show international meeting & incentive buyers what sets Ireland apart; world-class venues, unique incentive experiences, breath-taking landscapes, great hospitality, ease of access and warm and welcoming people.
 
The first ‘Meet in Ireland’ familiarization trip was with a group of influential incentive buyers from France. The group visited Cork, which they said was "a magical experience" for business tourism. For companies based in Paris, Ireland has proven to be a big draw with being only an hour-long flight away.  The group of French buyers determined Cork as a top destination for niche, high-end business tourism.
 
As well as being the food capital of Ireland, Cork is often referred to as Europe’s best-kept secret for business tourism with over 1,300 new hotel beds planned over the next two years, including a luxurious floating hotel on the river.
 
As part of their comprehensive itinerary, the group enjoyed a vintage car tour of Cork, a site inspection of Cork City Gaol—one of the city's most unique venues for corporate events such as gala dinners, whiskey sampling at Jameson Distillery in Midleton, a food tasting experience at the renowned English market, and they had the opportunity to see cork's stunning coastline from the Atlantic Ocean on a sea safari adventure in Cobh. The group fed back that “the prison was unique, exactly the kind of experience our clients are seeking, something they can’t get anywhere else. We’d recommend Cork for a real authentic experience.”

“The prison was unique, exactly the kind of experience our clients are seeking, something they can’t get anywhere else. We’d recommend Cork for a real authentic experience.”

The French buyers will pitch the Irish Incentive trip experience to companies in France who are looking for new and interesting ways to reward their top-performing staff with an unforgettable trip.
 
The second recent ‘Meet in Ireland’ familiarization trip was with UK buyers. For their itinerary, they had the opportunity to enjoy the hustle and bustle of capital city Dublin as well as experiencing the tranquil surroundings of Ireland’s Ancient East in the greater Dublin area.
 
Upon arrival, they started their visit with a visit to Dublin’s The Mansion House and took part in an exclusive whiskey tasting in the venue’s most historic room. After a seafood lunch in Dublin’s creative quarter, it was onto the iconic Trinity College Dublin. The afternoon was an escape to the countryside at Carton House, where the visiting group experienced adrenaline-fuelled activities on the grounds of the house, perfect for team building.
 
On their second day, the UK buyers enjoyed a tour of Croke Park Stadium and learnt about the art of Gaelic football before braving the skyline walk to take in the dizzying sights of Dublin. No trip to Dublin is complete without a visit to the Guinness Storehouse (as well as a well-deserved pint), which remains a popular venue for gala evenings that can host up to 2,000 people for a private event. The evening began with a cocktail mixing session at the five-star Conrad Hotel—a location heavily influenced by Dublin’s rich literary culture & local heritage—and capped off with V.I.P night seeing Michael Bublé live in concert.
 
On their last day, the group took in Dublin’s knowledge hub known as the “Silicon Docks” for a morning of city kayaking as well as lunch on the rooftop of the Marker Hotel. Dublin's Silicon Docks has fast become Europe’s Tech Hub with companies like Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and AirBnB making a home here.

If you want to find out what Ireland can offer your clients, the Meet in Ireland Team are on hand to offer professional advice and support. We're dedicated to ensuring your incentive experience in Ireland is memorable and successful. Contact us today to plan your unforgettable event.