Beautiful Bahamas Wows Travel Trade in Dún Laoghaire & Dublin Bay

ITTN’s Saoirse Cross-Smith joined a fantastic evening of bites, bubbles and experiencing all the Bahamas has to offer at Dublin Bay and the Royal Marine Hotel.

The Bahamas Tourist Office partnered with Galaxi Events, alongside Air Canada, Warwick Paradise Island, Finn Partners Nassau & Paradise Island Promotion Board, and Atlantis Paradise Island, to host the event. In attendance from the Bahamas Tourist Office were Mikala Moss, Director, Melissa Butler, Area Manager and Rossano Deal, District Manager.

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The event began with a private cruise along Dublin Bay, where invitees got to relax and enjoy a complimentary drink on board. The cruise set sail towards Dalkey Island, and despite the Irish weather that made for a bit of a choppy ride, the good energy stayed consistent. After making it back to land, everyone headed to the Royal Marine Hotel, where they were welcomed with delicious canapés and Bahamas-inspired cocktails.

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Attendees heard from representatives of the Bahamas and some of their spectacular hotels. Speakers included, Melissa Butler of the Bahamas Tourist Office, Blaithin O’Donnell, Sales Manager Ireland of Air Canada, Sobedia Feliz, Director of Sales and Marketing for Warwick Paradise Island Resort, Lucy Bailey, Senior Account Executive on the Travel Representation Team at Finn Partners, representing the Nassau & Paradise Island Promotion Board, Gabriela Lam, Global Executive Director of Sales at Atlantis Paradise Island, and Rossano Deal of the Bahamas Tourist Office.

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With the Bahamas consisting of 700 islands, there is an activity to suit anyone. Exuma alone has 365 cays, one for every day of the year, and is home to the famous pigs of Pigs Beach, making it perfect for animal lovers. For snorkellers and scuba divers, the island of Andros is an ideal destination, with the third largest barrier reef just off of its shore. And for those seeking a more authentic, community-driven experience, the People-to-People programme is a unique addition to any Bahamas itinerary.

Tourists simply fill out a form, and are connected with a local volunteer who shares similar interests, giving people a chance to connect on a deeper level. As one of the ambassadors of this programme, Beverly Wallace Whitfield, stated in the presentation video, ‘the people are who make any country’.

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When it comes to actually travelling from Ireland to the Bahamas, Air Canada has made this simple for any client. Air Canada specialises not only in tourists travelling to Canada, but also those travelling via Canada. With single connections available via Toronto or Montréal, a stopover in Canada is always an option – turning a trip to the Bahamas into a two-centre city and sea holiday.

With same terminal airside connections and no baggage pickup necessary, Air Canada offers simple connections for passengers travelling through Toronto or Montreal to Nassau, as well as comfort with multiple cabin options.

With over 300 hotels and accommodation in the Bahamas, the choices can seem endless. For a client looking for a more luxury stay, Warwick Paradise Island All-Inclusive Resort offers an idyllic retreat with beautiful dining options and facilities that include the Amber Spa, two pools and the Harbour Beach.

This hotel also offers honeymoon packages for any couple looking to enhance their stay, as well as a shuttle bus to the long beach, for an experience outside of the hotel. With the colour palette of the hotel having been inspired by the Bahamian colours, a stay here is truly immersive.

The Atlantis Paradise Island is another fantastic option for clients, consisting of five distinct hotels, for five unique experiences. With the Coral, Harbourside, the Reef, the Royal, and the Cove, there is an option for families, longer stays and even adults only. There are also various kids clubs and waterpark Aquaventure on-site, meaning there is no fear of ever growing bored here.

For even more options, there are a number of other Nassau & Paradise Island Promotion Board Member Hotels to choose from, with different facilities in each, creating an opportunity to match a clients interests with their accommodation. The Bahamas doesn’t have to just be a beach holiday with these options, there is an experience available for any type of client. The Viva Fortuna Beach by Wyndham is another beautiful resort alternative, with a dive centre on the property for those more adventurous clients.

The evening ended with a BBQ, more drinks and some Bahamian music to really give everyone in attendance a taste of the Bahamian experience. Throughout the event, some fantastic prizes were up for grabs, including several hotel stays. Top prizes included flights with Air Canada and a 4 night stay at the Warwick Hotel, with the lucky winner being Ann Marie McManus from Cassidy Travel in Tallaght, and a 7 night all-inclusive stay at Viva Fortuna Beach by Wyndham, won by Rebecca Murphy from Sunway Travel.

The Bahamas Tourist Office representatives and partners mentioned above, as well as Lucia Cappiello, Account Manager of Finn Partners, and Josh Lewis, Commercial Director of Galixi, thanked the Irish travel trade and media for their attendance and their ongoing support.