A deal that will offer conference delegates coming to Ireland a discount of up to 20% on their flight costs has been announced by Aer Lingus and the country’s leading PCOs and DMCs.
For a conference where Aer Lingus is the official carrier, an exclusive webpage on the airline’s website will be created with the discounted conference rate, allowing delegates to compare the offered price against the standard available rates.
"Aer Lingus is always looking for fresh ways to give more value to its customers. This initiative brings us into the 'Team Ireland’ approach that is dedicated to making Ireland a world class business destination" said Aisling Lyons, Sales Manager at Aer Lingus.
"Also, since we’ll have a much clearer idea about the people travelling with us, there will be greater opportunities for upgrades and other bonuses such as Gold Circle Lounge access."
The initiative comes at a time when Ireland is making considerable inroads in making itself a low-cost destination without compromising its high-quality reputation.
With a new report by Hotels.com indicating that Ireland has some of the cheapest hotel rates in Western Europe and also naming Dublin as one of the best value major cities in the world, Ireland is determinedly positioning itself as one of Europe’s top business destinations.
"Aer Lingus is one of the leading brands in the world, a real Irish icon, and the effort they are making in supporting business tourism is a real testament to their commitment’ said Nicola McGrane, Chair of AIPCO (Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers).
"This additional offering will place Ireland in a more competitive position in terms of overall value, quality and demonstrates our united team approach. In the last few years we have seen more and more stakeholders in the business tourism industry coming together to add even greater value for business travelers coming to Ireland and also for those organisations looking to place their meeting in Ireland."
"Without doubt, this initiative will help increase business tourism for Ireland particularly in the association meeting market."
Beyond the reduction in costs, there will also be an opportunity for partnerships in the bid process and site inspection stages when trying to bring major congresses to Ireland. Often a major obstacle in securing bids for the country, this investment in potential business could yield major returns for the Irish economy.
Operating direct flights from 22 countries, Aer Lingus flew 9.3 million passengers in 2010 and is Ireland’s oldest established airline.
