December brought a close to a busy 2025, with networking, destination activity, and long-haul travel — before the team signed off for Christmas.
Atout France Event
The month began in Dublin with an Atout France networking reception at Euronext Dublin, formerly the Irish Stock Exchange. The unique venue set the tone for an elegant evening that brought together Irish travel trade, media, and French tourism partners.
Ahead of the event, Air France and Atout France partners were treated to a private walking tour of Dublin city centre, led by historian Laura Fitzachary. The guided experience offered rich historical insight into the capital’s architecture, culture, and past, providing international partners with a deeper understanding of Dublin before the evening’s celebrations began.
On the night, guests enjoyed French-inspired food complete with a croquembouche and cocktails, access to valuable destination resources, and the chance to win a number of excellent prizes — making it a strong end-of-year touchpoint with the Irish market.
Barbados FAM trip
December also saw Irish Trade and trade media travel to Barbados, hosted by Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Aer Lingus, and Travel Trade Representation (TTR). The trip brought together Irish travel agents to promote Barbados while supporting Aer Lingus’ direct service from Manchester.
Over the course of the week, agents explored both the west and south coasts of the island, undertaking a comprehensive series of hotel site inspections across luxury, family-friendly, and all-inclusive resorts. The itinerary also included cultural and experiential highlights such as an island bus tour, a catamaran cruise, and local dining — giving agents a well-rounded understanding of Barbados as a destination for Irish travellers.
The trip concluded with a seamless return journey via Manchester, showcasing Aer Lingus’ improved airside transfer process and enhanced connectivity between Ireland and the Caribbean.
Signing Off for Christmas
With December’s events wrapped up, the TravelMedia.ie team signed off for the Christmas break — closing out 2025 after a strong final quarter of events, awards, international travel, and client activity.
