NEW CIE
TOURS: CIE Tours International
published its biggest ever Ireland & Britain 2005 brochure; at
84 pages, the guide includes 19 escorted coach tours of Ireland,
ranging from five to 14 days; six escorted tours combining the
Emerald Isle with Great Britain; and four types of independent
Irish vacations. The line-up includes five new escorted itineraries
combining airfare and deluxe, superior or first class hotels with
meals, entertainment, and sightseeing. New tours include the
seven-night, 13-meal Irish Interlude to lesser-traveled areas of
Ireland, priced from $1,508 with departures weekly on Saturdays and
most Mondays, March 19 to Oct. 29. And the four-night, 7-meal Irish
Fling to the southwest and southeast coasts is bookable on a
land-only basis from $698; departures are set for Fridays from
April 8 to Nov. 4, and on Sunday from May 1 to Oct. 30.
AGENT FAM
PERK: In other news, CIE is
offering travel agents -- and companions who share a room with them
-- a 40% discount off the land portion of any 2004 departure of its
escorted motorcoach tours. To contact CIE -- which pays agents 10%
on land and varying commissions on air -- call (800) CIE-TOUR or
visit www.cietours.com.
READY, SET,
GO: More than 10,000 runners will race in the 25th annual
Adidas Dublin Marathon this Monday, the highest number of
participants registered since 1982. The Oct. 25 race has attracted
elite male and female runners from 54 countries; Irelands best hope
is Gary Crossan of Donegal, who finished 6th last year. For more
information about the marathon and other pending sport events in
Dublin visit www.visitdublin.com/events/sport.asp
online.
AER-IER
LINGUS? A slimmer Aer Lingus said more than 1,500
employees have applied for early retirement under the voluntary
severance scheme announced in August 2003, as part of the Irish
carriers cost-cutting program. At press time, 175 staff had already
left the company. Aer Lingus hailed the voluntary reductions --
along with other savings measures -- as important contributions to
the quest to rework the airline into a leading low-fare/low-cost
carrier both in Europe and, now, on transatlantic routes. For more,
visit www.aerlingus.com.
SIMPLY
ELEGANT: A sales team from Dublin-based Elegant Ireland is
trolling Pennsylvania and New Jersey this week, looking to drum up
agent interest in the companys short-term luxury property rentals
and customized holiday and event management services in the Emerald
Isle. The firm, which promotes itself as the leading upmarket
rental outfit, pays around 10% commission on its short-term castle,
country house and cottage rentals and also offers net rates on
customized special-interest tours for groups. Tour themes offered
range from Georgian homes, and guesthouse and gardens, to Celtic
spirituality and St. Patrick-related itineraries. For more
information, visit www.elegantireland.ie and/or www.elegant.ie.