Press Release

Nominations for Irish Travel Industry Supplier Awards and Member Awards Entries are now open

Dublin, 20^th November 2024   Travel agency staff are invited to nominate their preferred travel industry suppliers for entry into the Irish Travel Industry Awards in association with MSC Cruises.

The Irish Travel Industry Awards, organised by Business Exhibitions on behalf of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), are the premier awards for suppliers and agents in the travel industry in Ireland. Winners will be announced at a gala banquet which will take place in the historic Round Room at Dublin’s Mansion House on Thursday, 23rd January 2025.

The Supplier Awards feature a number of categories spanning all areas of the travel industry including air travel, tour operators, cruise lines and ferry companies, agency services providers and destinations. Full details of Categories, Awards and how to nominate a supplier can be viewed HERE.

The option to nominate your favoured trade supplier for the Supplier Awards is open to individual staff members of all licensed travel agents in the Republic of Ireland. Licensed Travel Agents staff nationwide, whether ITAA members or not, are invited to participate. The deadline for nominations is 4th December 2024.

Once the nomination process has been completed, voting for the Supplier Awards will open on Friday, 6^thDecember 2024 to all licensed travel agents in the Republic of Ireland. Licensed Travel Agents nationwide, whether ITAA members or not, will be invited to participate by the ITAA. Any Agent who does not receive an invitation can email info@itaa.ie for their invitation. Closing date for votes is Friday, 20^th December 2024.

Owner/Managers will be requested at the Voting Stage to consult with staff when deciding who to cast their vote in favour of. The following should be considered:

• Quality of Product
• Quality of Service
• Range of Product
• Price Competitiveness
• Customer Service And Ability To Resolve Problems

The entry process for ITAA Member Awards is also open from today. This is an application process with clearly defined marking criteria, followed by a video interview for the short-listed candidates. This process will be overseen by an independent judging panel of industry experts. Entry forms will be issued to all ITAA member Owner Managers. The ITAA Member Awards highlight the contribution of ITAA Travel Agents to the Irish travel industry.

Angela Walsh, President of the ITAA, commented “I would recommend all travel agents to encourage their staff’s participation in the nomination process for the Supplier Awards voting process and for all ITAA members to enter the Member Awards this year, to ensure all receive the recognition they richly deserve.”  

She continued, “Once nominations close, for the Supplier Awards, it is One Agency One Vote and I urge all Owner Managers to consult with your staff to choose your agency’s choice supplier in each category. We are looking for suppliers who excel in the quality of service and product.” 

Clare Dunne, CEO of the ITAA, said, “This year we are opening the supplier nomination process to all travel agency staff. It is the staff who work directly with the suppliers on a day to day basis who know what assists them in providing good customer service, whether it be product, service or price competitiveness. Your nomination is a really important first step to ensure that the awards are a true reflection of the very best in the Irish Travel Industry – please have your say and nominate today.”

Tickets for the 2025 Irish Travel Industry Awards are now on sale, please go to www.irishtravelindustryawards.com to download a booking form. 

The awards are an initiative of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) and are organised on their behalf by Business Exhibitions Limited. To find out more: www.irishtravelindustryawards.com

Key Sponsors of the Irish Travel Industry Awards are MSC Cruises (headline), Emirates, Hertz, Hurtigruten, JetBlue, Mediahuis, Princess Cruises, Riviera Travel, Shannon Airport and the Spanish Tourist Office.

ENDS

About the Irish Travel Industry Awards:

The Irish Travel Industry Awards, now in their 13^th year, are the premier awards for suppliers and travel agents in the travel industry in Ireland. The awards are an initiative of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) and supported by Travel Centres and Worldchoice. The event is organised on behalf of the ITAA by Business Exhibitions Limited.

The Awards will be held in the historic Round Room at the Mansion House Dublin on Thursday, 23^rd January 2025. Over 450 travel professionals will attend this ultimate awards night.

About the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA):

The ITAA represents Ireland’s travel Industry, bringing together 100 travel agent members and 70 partners. ITAA members cover over 140 outlets in different towns and cities throughout the Republic of Ireland. All travel agent members are licenced and bonded with the IAA (Irish Aviation Authority) to trade in the Republic of Ireland.

www.itaa.ie

For information, please contact:

Rae Bathgate, Limelight Communications, rachel.bathgate@limelight.ie, 087 169 6008
Kathryn Byrne, Limelight Communications, kathryn.byrne@limelight.ie, (085) 233 6033 
or (01) 668 0600.