Irish Travel Agents Association postpone Annual Conference until April 2021
The Irish Travel Agents Association, which celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, has rescheduled its Annual Conference to take place from the 8th to the 10th of April, 2021 in line with current COVID-19 safety measures. The ITAA Annual Conference was scheduled to take place this year in Évora, Portugal from the 15th to the 18th of October, however to ensure the safety and comfort of all delegates the ITAA Board and the Portuguese Tourist Office in Dublin have made the difficult decision to postpone the Conference until April 2021.
The ITAA Annual Conference provides travel industry professionals with many valuable opportunities to network and up-skill, as well as learning more about the international travel trade. There are also plenty of activities and wonderful cultural experiences for delegates to enjoy throughout the duration of their visit.
Pat Dawson, CEO of the ITAA said, “The Annual Conference is a highlight of the travel trade and press calendars in Ireland, as it provides us with an opportunity to meet with our colleagues from both home and abroad, as well as discover more about Portugal and the Alentejo. The Alentejo is a region with a strong cultural background, with numerous castles, churches, monasteries, megalithic monuments, a rich Roman heritage, and home to Évora – a classified a UNESCO World Heritage city. These events are essential for allowing the important partnership between Ireland, Évora, the Alentejo and other Portuguese regions to continue to grow at every level of tourism, culture and business. Unfortunately, due to concerns surrounding the spread of coronavirus, we feel that it would be in everyone’s best interests to reschedule this year’s conference to take place in April 2021. We are very much looking forward to holding our conference in Évora and working to prepare a safe, successful and enjoyable event for our delegates from all over the world.”
He continued, “These last few months have been incredibly stressful for the Irish Travel Industry, with many businesses under immense pressure due to travel restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are pleased to be able to reschedule these important events to meet up with our friends, old and new, and discuss the international travel trade. We will be posting regular updates in our ITAA newsletter and on our website over the coming months, so be sure to check for updated information.”
Susana Cardoso, Director the Portuguese Tourist Office in Dublin said, “While we are disappointed with the postponement of the ITAA conference to April next year, it is the right decision to ensure that delegates have the best experience possible. We are very much looking forward to welcoming the Irish trade in Évora next April.”
Vítor Silva, President of the Alentejo Tourism Bureau said, “Évora is ready to welcome tourists when they feel ready to travel. Throughout the Alentejo region in Portugal you will find a ‘social distance landscape’ and a clean and safe environment where you can enjoy heritage, a strong gastronomy and wine tradition, pedestrian routes, the largest artificial lake in Europe, parks and natural reserves.”
The ITAA represents Ireland’s travel Industry, bringing together 100 travel agent members and 70 affiliate partners. ITAA members cover over 140 outlets in different towns and cities throughout the Republic of Ireland. All travel agent members are licensed by the Commission for Aviation Regulation and are fully bonded providing full financial protection for their customers.
