Michael Doorley, who founded Shandon Travel in 1974, quickly became a key member of the then four year old Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), serving as Munster representative and later as President, where he championed consumer protection legislation in the travel industry.
During a turbulent time for travel agents, he played a crucial role in establishing systems for consumer rights, contributing to the 1982 Transport (Tour Operators and Travel Agents) Act, which laid the groundwork for modern consumer protection laws in Ireland.
Doorley was instrumental in the development of TIMAS, a collaborative effort that improved reservation systems for travel agents, leading to the creation of Galileo and, eventually, Travelport, helping agents streamline their operations significantly.
Committed to the ITAA for nearly 50 years, Doorley has repeatedly stepped up to provide leadership at critical junctures, advocating for the association to adapt to modern technology and marketing strategies to remain relevant in the evolving travel landscape shaped by the internet.
Mr Doorley shared: “every industry needs a voice and collective representation, and the ITAA does that. But in the new age of the internet, with the general public, fivem travel agents, doing their own thing, the Association needs to look at harnessing technology in a collective way for all its members for marketing and online sales. It’s time for the ITAA to leave old ways aside and embrace fresh thinking and new way of keeping bricks and mortar members alive. In Worldchoice; prior to Covid, technology for collective marketing, without each agent losing their identity, was developed. Why can’t the ITAA do this? If this means changing the fifty year old constitution, to come in line with today’s travel reality, then let’s have the courage to make that step.”
