DAY AND NIGHT: Sceptre Ireland's Sights &
Sounds escorted tour to the Emerald Isle -- priced from $499 per
person, double -- pairs daytime sightseeing with nighttime pub
visits. Sights & Sounds includes roundtrip air, accommodations
-- with two nights in Galway and two nights in Dublin -- breakfast
daily, two dinners, most sightseeing and all tips, taxes and
service charges. The tour departs every other day from Nov. 1 to
27. Pricing is valid from Baltimore, Boston and New York; add $90
and $200 for Chicago and Los Angeles departures, respectively.
Additional gateways nationwide are available. Sceptre Ireland pays
10% commission to agents. For more information, visit www.sceptreireland.com or call (800) 221-0924.
ONLINE ADVANTAGE: Don't forget to check out
Tourism Ireland's Shamrock Club destination specialist Web site at
www.shamrockclub.net/register. Once you've joined, you
can log onto the recently upgraded site for access to online
education and certification modules and other features. For more,
contact Tourism Ireland's John Daly at (212) 418-0835, or visit the
site.
HOTEL UPDATE: The Irish Tourist Board (Bord
Failte) in Dublin is revamping the country's accommodations
standards, according to Ireland's Dept. of Arts, Sport and Tourism.
As of May 1, the minimum number of rooms necessary for hotel status
in cities will be reduced from 20 to 15, there will be increases in
minimum size requirements for guestrooms, and bathrooms must now be
en suite. While hotels will still be required to make meals and
refreshments available at reasonable hours, they won't have to
maintain full restaurant service at all times. "These new
regulations are more reflective of modern best practice and changes
in consumer tastes and practices," said John O'Donoghue, minister
for arts, sport and tourism.
WAR MOVES: In other news, Ireland's Dept. of
Arts, Sport and Tourism announced a national tourism action plan to
respond to war in Iraq. Moves include market intelligence gathering
in 19 countries with Tourism Ireland offices; improved contact with
Irish suppliers, regional tourism directors and the Irish Tourism
Industry Confederation; and adjustments to overseas marketing
campaigns throughout 2003. Minister O'Donoghue said Ireland's
experience with hoof-and-mouth disease and the Sept. 11 attacks
proved that the Irish tourism industry was resilient. Ireland's
overall growth in overseas visitor numbers last year was 1.2%,
compared to 2001, while the decline from the North American market
was significantly less than anticipated, at 7%. "Given the
difficulties of the last couple of years, Irish tourism has shown
itself to be tough and durable," said O'Donoghue. "I have every
confidence that [the industry] will rise to meet and overcome the
challenges of the day."
LAST-MINUTE BELFAST: The Stormont Hotel, 10
minutes outside Belfast, is offering last-minute deals this weekend
and next. Two nights' bed and breakfast costs about $36 per person,
double, per night; meanwhile, one night's bed and breakfast runs
$48 per person. The single room supplement is $34; prices include
complimentary use of the nearby David Lloyd Health Club. There is
no commission on the weekend specials; the Stormont normally pays
10%. This offer is available April 4 to 6, and April 11 to 13. To
book, ask for the "Last Minute Offer" at (011) 44-289 065-1066 or
send an e-mail to [email protected]. For more
information on the Stormont, visit www.hastingshotels.com.