Emer McDermott’ as recognised as the Top Travel Counsellor in Ireland during Travel Counsellors largest global conference in Manchester.
The conference attracted 2,100 delegates, including the biggest ever Irish delegation of 35, along with nine team members from the Cork head office. Travel Cunsellors has expanded to 84 home workers in Ireland.
The conference featured a lineup of celebrity speakers and provided numerous networking opportunities with 220 suppliers.
Headline sponsors included Accor Hotels, Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts, Celebrity Cruises, Inside Travel Group, Intrepid Travel, Seabourn, and Visit California.
Host Vernon Kay returned for his tenth appearance, and the event showcased its largest lineup of external speakers to date, including human rights award winner Lurata Lyon, Olympian and sports scientist Greg Whyte OBE, stress and wellness podcaster Alice Law, former Chief Business Officer of Google X Mo Gawdat, futurologist Tom Cheesewright, perfumer and entrepreneur Jo Malone CBE, G Adventures Founder Bruce Poon Tip, and entrepreneur Sara Davies MBE. Additionally, performance poet Tony Walsh mesmerized the audience with a bespoke poem crafted for Travel Counsellors and its clients. The weekend featured exceptional entertainment, including performances by the remarkable Ibiza Symphony Orchestra, Ellie Sax, MadHen, Abba Revival, and Nile Rodgers, who gave an intimate set and addressed attendees on Sunday.
Under the theme ‘30 Beyond,’ the event celebrated a record-breaking year of shared accomplishments while looking forward to new opportunities as the community continues to grow. CEO Steve Byrne emphasized the importance of community and supporting one another, highlighting the company’s commitment to providing the optimal blend of human and digital customer experiences. This approach aims to create tailor-made travel experiences that enhance lives, foster lasting customer relationships, and empower business owners to achieve their full potential.
Over the weekend, delegates were introduced to advancements planned for the upcoming year, supported by a £16m million investment in technology. This investment will see the launch of a new AI-powered assistant, TC Co-Pilot, which combines the best of internal and external content to assist business owners in providing highly personalized solutions for their clients. Another significant innovation is The Interactive Quote, an advanced planning tool featuring a suite of destination content developed after the acquisition of Planisto. This groundbreaking feature, already trialed within the community, is set for a global rollout in the coming weeks.
Marketing efforts will focus on leveraging human stories across social media to enhance personal branding. Moreover, the partnership with entrepreneur Sara Davies will expand, with her leading a series of virtual coaching sessions throughout the year to help Travel Counsellors scale and grow their businesses.
Cathy Burke, Managing Director of Travel Counsellors Ireland, shared, “One of the standout moments for us was when Emer McDermott from Westport, Co. Mayo, accepted her award for Top Travel Counsellor in Ireland.”
