CÉAD MÍLE FÁILTE FOR 600 TRAVEL BLOGGERS

MORE than 600 of Europe’s top travel social influencers – who have a combined reach of over 380 million travel fans – descended on Killarney last week to attend the annual TBEX Europe conference.

The event – which was held at the INEC in Killarney from Tuesday to Thursday last week – is the largest annual gathering of travel bloggers, writers, content creators and social media-savvy travel industry professionals in Europe.

As well as attending the TBEX conference, most of the highly influential group – many of whom are enjoying their first trip to Ireland – will spend around two weeks exploring the rest of Kerry and Ireland.

While the delegates were in Killarney, Fáilte Ireland used the opportunity to showcase Kerry’s major visitor experience brands by bringing hundreds of these influencers on bespoke fact-finding trips.

Fáilte Ireland worked in partnership with the Kerry Convention Bureau to prepare 12 one day itineraries designed to showcase signature experiences and destinations throughout the Kerry region to the attending bloggers and influencers.

Providing a comprehensive mix of culture, history, active adventure and gastronomic experiences, the one day tours took in key destinations including Killarney, Dingle, Listowel, Tralee, Sneem and Kenmare.

With the support of Killarney Chamber, a number of locally based Killarney day experiences were organised for the delegates.

These included visits to the newly opened Killarney House and Gardens, photography workshops, guided walks and cycles through Killarney National Park, Irish dancing lessons and an Irish drinks demonstration.

On Monday, October 2 – the eve of the conference – Killarney threw open its doors to the delegates for a night of culture and craic. Shops, restaurants and bars offered TBEX specials, brewing company tours and whiskey master-classes, and the streets were filled with entertainment and cultural experiences.

All photos by Valerie O’Sullivan Dingle based adventurer and explorer Mike O’Shea who was one of the key note speakers at the TBEX 2017 conference held at the INEC in Killarney last week.

Noel John McLoughlin, Marketing Director, Fáilte Ireland; Rachell Hill, Rachells Travel Enterprise; Daragh Anglim, Head of Marketing, Fáilte Ireland; and key note speaker Bret Love at TBEX 2017.

Carnina and Mike Collins and Hannah Hayes were among the delegates at the TBEX conference in Killarney

Natalie DiScala with her husband Johnny, their son Jack Jet and Declan Murphy at the TBEX conference at the INEC

Travel bloggers Veronica Ondrejech, Mags Nixon and Pam Roberts at the TBEX conference.