Tourism businesses from Ireland at IBTM World in Barcelona, including Steven Bradley, Tourism Ireland (seated, left); Maureen Dooher, Tourism Northern Ireland (seated, sixth left); Ciara Gallagher, Fáilte Ireland (seated, centre); Susan Bolger, Tourism Ireland (seated, right); and Tania Dunne, Glasson Lakehouse (front row, second left).

Glasson Lakehouse hotel represented at major tourism expo in Barcelona

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Glasson Lakehouse was recently promoted at one of the leading global events for the meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) industry – IBTM World – which took place in Barcelona last week.

The Westmeath hotel was one of 35 tourism businesses from Ireland to attend the event, held from Monday, November 18 to Wednesday, November 20.

Ireland was promoted at the event as a world-class destination for business events to top international buyers, to inspire them to choose the island for future meetings and incentive travel. Around 1,900 commercial meetings were scheduled for the three-day event.

The MICE industry is recognised as a key driver of economic growth. Business travel is high value and often midweek and off-season by its nature, thereby aligning with Tourism Ireland’s strategy to grow overseas tourism revenue outside of the peak summer season.

Tourism Ireland’s Head of Business Events and Luxury, David Boyce said: “We are delighted to have 35 tourism partners from Ireland with us at IBTM World in Barcelona this week, as we collectively work to inspire the international buyers in attendance about all that Ireland has to offer their clients.

“Tourism Ireland’s goal is to enable thousands of commercial business events meetings this year – connecting our tourism partners from Ireland with overseas buyers, to grow business events and support tourism enterprises right across the island.

“To date in 2024, we have invested around €2.5 million in the area of business events and have facilitated over 7,000 commercial meetings. IBTM World is a fantastic platform for our partners from Ireland to showcase and sell their products and services, to ensure they win a greater share of the buyers’ business in 2025 and beyond.”

‘Meet in Ireland’ is the official MICE brand for the island of Ireland, comprising Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland, who work in partnership to promote the island of Ireland as a leading business events destination.

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