2016 Irish Responsible Tourism Conference & Awards

Thursday 6th October 2016 ‘Using tourism for local benefit'09:30 am to 10:00 Registration & Coffee/Networking10:00 am to 10:10 Welcome: James Chilton & Harold Goodwin

10:10 am to 10:20 Opening address: Paddy Mathews – Head of Investment & Innovation, Fáilte Ireland

Recognising Success – local examples of using tourism for change

10:20 am to 10:40 Cathy Wolfe – Connemara Wild Escapes‘Surviving & thriving on the west coast’

10:40 am to 11:00 Laura Dixon – Westport Smarter Travel‘Positive experiences creating positive change’

11:00 am to 11:25 Q&A and Panel DiscussionOrganising for success – whose responsibility is it?

11:25 pm to 11:45Ian Corbett – Sustainable Business Manager, TUI UK & Ireland‘How large travel companies can enable more local people to share in the benefits of tourism’

11:45 pm to 12:05 Marta Cabral – Director, Rota Vicentina Association, Portugal‘Rota Vicentina – Much more than a walking route’

12:05 pm to 12:30 Q&A and Panel Discussion12:30 pm to 13:30 Lunch13:30 pm to 13:50 Keynote: Harold GoodwinMeasuring Success – how do we quantify & indicate positive change?

13:50 pm to 14:10 Jenefer Bobbin - Managing Director, JUSTreport Global‘Monitoring Impacts of Small Businesses’

14:10 pm to 14:30 Fiona Monaghan – Head of Wild Atlantic Way, Fáilte Ireland‘The Wild Atlantic Way - What will Success Look Like in 2020?

14:30 pm to 15:00 Q&A and Panel Discussion15:00 am to 16:00 2016 Irish Responsible Tourism Awards Ceremony16:00 pm to 16:20 Coffee/NetworkingCommunicating Success – selling your tourism overseas

16:20 pm to 16:40Kate Taylor – Taylored Training‘Selling the Intangible; How to communicate your tourism message so that your market really understands it!’

16:40 pm to 17:00 Mark Henry – Central Marketing Director, Tourism Ireland‘Communicating Success - selling your business or destination overseas’

17:00 pm to 17:25 Q&A and Panel Discussion17:25 pm to 17:30 Closing Comments17:30 pm to 18:30 Drinks & Canapé Reception

Irish Centre for Responsible Tourism - www.icrt.ie

In association with

First Name Job Title Company / OrganisationAisling Meade Senior Programme Manager EIL Intercultural LearningAmy Rankin Marketing Director Vagabond Tours Robert Rankin Managing Director Vagabond Tours Helen Cole Marketing Manager Vagabond Tours Brian Fahy Managing Director Action RecruitmentCarol Loftus Community Volunteer Mulranny TourismCathy Wolfe Director Connemara Wild EscapesChristina Lynch Enterprise & Investment Unit Mayo County CouncilDr. Ciaran Byrne CEO Inland Fisheries IrelandSuzanne Campion Head of Business Development Inland Fisheries IrelandDave Ward Commercial Service Manager Commissioners of Irish LightsDonie O'Sullivan Owner Killarney Riding StablesDr. Harold Goodwin Director Responsible Tourism PartnershipDr. Kevin Griffin Tourism Lecturer Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT)Enda Conneely Owner South Aran CentreEthna Murphy Tourism Development Consultant Ethna Murphy ConsultingFiona Monaghan Head of Wild Atlantic Way Fáilte Ireland

Frances Mathews CoordinatorMunicipal District of Carrickmacross – Castleblayney

Mr. Eamon O’Sullivan Chief Executive Monaghan County CouncilCllr. Aidan Campbell Cathaoirleach

Municipal District of Carrickmacross – Castleblayney

Katrina Coleman Monaghan Tourism Monaghan County CouncilHelen Browne Owner Doolin CaveJohn Browne Owner Doolin CaveHelen Vaughan Press Outsider MagazineIan Corbett Sustainable Business Manager TUI UK & IrelandJames Chilton Director Irish Centre for Responsible TourismJane Hackett Staff Irish Centre for Responsible TourismJean Byrne Co Founder Design 21st CenturyJenefer Bobbin Managing Director Justreport GlobalJoanne Arnold Fundraising and Marketing Executive Irish Landmark TrustKate Taylor Director Taylored TrainingKathleen Linehan Group Employee Relations Manager Gleneagle Hotel GroupPatrick O'Donoghue CEO Gleneagle Hotel GroupEileen O'Donoghue Director Gleneagle Hotel GroupOrla Steinbeck Group H&S Manager Gleneagle Hotel GroupMartina Mayse Accessibility Assistant Gleneagle Hotel GroupLaura Dixon Travel Officer Westport Smarter TravelLinda Woods Owner Ireland Walk Bike HikeLucy Hunt Director Sea SynergyMaria Benson Lecturer Cork Institute of TechnologyMark Henry Central Marketing Director Tourism IrelandMarta Cabral Director Rota Vicentina AssociationMary Bermingham Managing Director Burren Nature SanctuaryRoy Bermingham Managing Director Burren Nature SanctuaryMary Mulvey CEO Ecotourism IrelandMary Ruane Senior Executive Officer Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County CouncilNiall Heenan Owner Fuchsia Lane Farm & Holiday Cottages

Niamh MooreDirector of Communications & Marketing Uversity

Noelle Daly Director Mobility Mojo

In association with

Joe Connaughton Director Mobility MojoPaddy Mathews Head of Investment & Innovation Fáilte IrelandPaul Robbins Owner Garden Plants IrelandRaquel Noboa Front Office Manager Hotel DoolinRoisin Finlay Press Outsider MagazineSabina Trench Rural Development Programme South West Mayo Development CompanySean Carolan Volunteer Mulranny TourismShiloe Gormley Sales & Marketing Manager Station House HotelSiobhán Burke Marketing Coodinator Living the Sheeps Head WaySiobhán Ryan Inishbofin CSP Manager Inishbofin Community Services ProgrammeSiobhán Sloane Communications & Development Burren Nature SanctuaryStephen Cluskey Director Mobility MojoStephen Mandal CEO Cultural Tourism IrelandLisanne O’Loughlin Director Cultural Tourism IrelandSue O'Toole   South MayoSunday Odueke   Swiftz TravelTBC   Swiftz Travel

Tina O'Dwyer Sustainable Tourism Co-ordinatorBurren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark/Burren Ecotourism Network

Vincent Hyland Director Wild DerrynaneAoife Kelly Volunteer Irish Centre for Responsible TourismGráinne Murphy MSc Sustainable Tourism Student  Teresa O'Reilly   Galway County CouncilSamantha Leslie CEO Castle LeslieCarole Donaghy Consultant Castle LeslieSharon McIlvenna Tourism & Marketing Coordinator Colaiste Dhulaigh, CDETBGeraldine Twomey Business & Tourism Coordinator Colaiste Dhulaigh, CDETBCate Moyne Business & Tourism Coordinator Colaiste Dhulaigh, CDETBHolly Hunt Director Wilderness IrelandCillian Murphy Chair Loop Head TourismKaren Commins Lecturer DKITRosemary Mulholland Head of Conservation & Heritage

Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council

Shane Smyth Bundoran Tourism Officer Discover BundoranRoland Monsegu Director Greenlife Tours LtdPeter Keehan    David Mac Nulty Director Tourism Development InternationalPeter Mac Nulty Managing Director Tourism Development InternationalNiall Hughes Owner Sea View House DoolinMaurice Bergin Managing Director Green Hospitality ProgrammeJenny Byrne Manager Denville House FarmJackie Jefferson Ecotourism Manager Dolphin HotelMajella Pierse Lecturer IT TraleeAnn-Marie Conneely Administration Officer Kildare County CouncilHelen Dowling RAPID/Tourism Officer Kildare County CouncilMaeve Walsh Environment Officer Fáilte Ireland

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2016 Irish Responsible Tourism Conference - Speaker Profiles

Jenefer Bobbin, Managing Director – JUSTreport Global‘Monitoring Impacts of Small Businesses’Jenefer is Managing Director for JUSTreport, a transparent reporting company that helps small businesses monitor their social, economic and environmental impacts. As part of her master’s degree in Responsible Tourism Management she spent time in Nepal researching the need for an alternative/complementary system to certification that could be tailored to

suit any travel business and any destination. Working with the Nepali tourism industry, she launched JUSTreport, a bespoke sustainability reporting scheme for the travel and tourism industry. www.justreport.io

Marta Cabral, Director - Rota Vicentina Association, Portugal‘Rota Vicentina – Much more than a walking route’Marta Cabral was born in Lisbon and lives in Aljezur. She graduated in Business Administration & Marketing (ISCTE) and began working at FIEMG, Brazil, where she had the opportunity to experience tourism, nature and cultural matters in a very inspiring way. After a short period at Parque Expo 98, in Lisbon, she managed the Casas Brancas local networking organisation from 2003 to 2015 based on the natural and cultural environment of the Algarve & Alentejo regions. In 2008 she started to develop and coordinate the Rota Vicentina project and was co-

founder of the Rota Vicentina Association in 2013 of which she is now Executive President. The Rota Vicentina, launched in 2012, includes 400km of way-marked routes along the beautiful coastline of south-west Portugal, all within the South-West Alentejo and Vicentina Coast Natural Park. Rota Vicentina contributes to the sustainability of the region through the promotion of economic activity, stimulation of existing activities and services, maintenance and enhancement of local culture and traditions, stimulating new businesses and promoting the destination out of season. The trail network has received multiple awards, including the prestigious ‘Leading Quality Trails – Best in Europe’ certification by the European Ramblers Association. The project is underpinned by the non-profit Rota Vicentina Association – a partnership of over 150 businesses along the route. Marta is also part of several institutions in both Alentejo and Algarve regions, concerning a range of tourism, local development and environment policies. More information can be found at www.rotavicentina.com.

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James Chilton, Director - Irish Centre for Responsible TourismJames is Director of the Irish Centre for Responsible Tourism and directs the Irish Responsible Tourism Conference series which he started in 2014 and co-chairs with Dr Harold Goodwin, and the Irish Responsible Tourism Awards which he founded in 2015 in partnership with responsibletravel.com, with the goal of promoting & celebrating

responsible tourism in Ireland.James is a chartered town planner and tourism development consultant. He has previously been employed as a director of a scuba diving school & holiday company in London; as a regional recreation planner for New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, and as a planner with Brady Shipman Martin in Dublin. James frequently partners with a range of tourism, planning and engineering companies in Ireland as well as working with Fáilte Ireland and has particular experience in destination planning, trail development, strategic tourism master-planning and responsible tourism development.

James recently completed a seasonal diversification strategy, focussing on walking & cycling, for the Algarve with Tourism Development International (TDI), and is currently involved with a visitor management & sustainable tourism plan for Holy Island in Lough Derg with Solearth Architects; pier visitor centre & village masterplan for Doolin with Bucholz McEvoy Architects; visitor experience development plans for Fáilte Ireland with TEAM Tourism Consulting; and a heritage tourism project in Georgia, also with TDI.

James has a long-standing interest in responsible tourism, completing an MSc in Tourism Conservation & Sustainable Development with the International Centre for Responsible Tourism in 2001. For more information please visit www.icrt.ie and www.rethinktourism.ie.

Ian Corbett, Sustainable Business Manager, TUI UK & Ireland‘How large travel companies can enable more local people to share in the benefits of tourism’Ian is the Sustainable Business Manager for TUI UK & Ireland, a leading tour operator whose brands include Falcon and Thomson Holidays. Ian’s role is to integrate sustainability in to the overall business strategy so that its potential to be a catalyst for innovation, continuous improvement and brand differentiation continues to be realised. As part of this, his remit also includes TUI UK & Ireland’s

charity and community engagement programme. Ian works as part of a network of sustainable managers across the TUI Group that aims to harness the power that tourism has to benefit the destination communities that host the Group’s 30 million customers every year. Ian holds a law degree from the University of Sheffield and has worked in the tourism industry for over fifteen years. He decided to specialise in the area of sustainable tourism having started his career in marketing, product and commercial management roles.

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For further information about Sustainable Development at TUI Group visit www.tui-sustainability.com

Laura Dixon, Westport Smarter Travel‘Positive experiences creating positive change’Westport has a thriving tourist industry and Laura Dixon, through her work with Westport Smarter Travel, uses this platform to encourage positive behavioural change. Through holding entertaining events such as the WST Bike Buffet Laura aims to encourage more people to choose sustainable travel in their daily lives. Laura currently works with Westport Smarter Travel and the Green-Schools program. She is a qualified Civil Engineer and fluent Irish

speaker and has worked in the environmental sector since college with jobs varying from labouring to teaching to developing local enterprise opportunities. www.westportsmartertravel.ie

Dr Harold Goodwin, Director, Responsible Tourism PartnershipHarold has been at the forefront of Responsible Tourism since the late nineties, in 2002 he co-chaired the 1st International Conference in Responsible Tourism in Destinations and drafted the Cape Town Declaration which included the definition: using tourism to make better places for people to live in and for people to visit. Harold has worked with business and destinations around the world on how Responsible Tourism benefits businesses and how to maximise

the positive impacts and minimise negative impacts. For more information please visit www.haroldgoodwin.info

Mark Henry, Central Marketing Director - Tourism Ireland‘Communicating Success - selling your business or destination overseas’Mark is an insight-driven, strategic marketer and is an established leader in deploying new media marketing. He leads the Central Marketing Division of Tourism Ireland and has responsibility for the organisation’s marketing functions on the island of Ireland, with teams based in both Dublin and Coleraine. His remit covers strategy development, research, brand, content, marketing communications, e-marketing, customer service, and cooperative marketing activity with the tourism industry. He has previously led the

promotion of national tourism initiatives such as “The Gathering 2013” and “Northern Ireland 2012” overseas. Mark is currently Vice President of the European Travel Commission which unites 32 of Europe’s national tourist boards. Before joining Tourism Ireland Mark was Strategic Development Manager with the Internet arm of Horizon Technology Group plc. Before that again he was Head of Research & Planning for the e-business subsidiary of eircom, the former state telecommunications company. Mark possesses Masters degrees in both Psychology and Business Administration. www.tourismireland.com

In association with

Fiona Monaghan, Head of Wild Atlantic Way - Fáilte Ireland‘The Wild Atlantic Way - What will Success Look Like in 2020?’A native of Galway City, Ireland, Fiona has worked in the tourism sector for 20 years both in the United States and Ireland. On completion of her MBS in 1995 Fiona took up the position of Director of Sales for North America with the Doyle Hotel Group in Washington DC and worked with the organisation through the acquisition of a

prominent Washington DC hotel and subsequently during the merger with the Jurys Hotel Group in 1999.In late 1999, she relocated to New York to take up the position of Trade Promotions Manager with the Irish Tourist Board. In 2001, the Irish Tourist Board/Bord Fáilte merged with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to form Tourism Ireland and Fiona held a number of positions with the newly formed organisation including the role of Manager of Strategic Planning & Advertising before returning to Ireland in 2007 to take up the role of Head of Operations with Fáilte Ireland in the West of Ireland. Up to the end of 2013, Fiona held the role of co-chair of the Lakelands & Inland Waterways initiative with responsibility for development and promotion of Ireland’s Lakelands & Inland Waterways.

Most recently Fiona has been appointed Head of the Wild Atlantic Way programme, one of three key strategic Experience Brands developed by Fáilte Ireland. The Wild Atlantic Way is a new Experience Brand developed by Fáilte Ireland to package and present the West of Ireland as a tourism experience of scale and singularity. The essence of the project is rooted in the landscape and seascapes of the West of Ireland and community engagement and sustainable development are at the heart of the project. Launched in 2014, the project has captured the minds of the Irish tourism sector and the Irish public and has won a number of prestigious accolades including the President’s Prize in the 2015 Irish Landscape Institute awards and the 2016 National Planning Institute Award for Tourism & Economic Development.

In her spare time, Fiona enjoys open water sea swimming along the Wild Atlantic Way and is an avid Connacht Rugby and Galway Hurling supporter. www.failteireland.ie

Kate Taylor, Taylored Training‘Selling the Intangible; How to communicate your tourism message so that your market really understands it!’Kate Taylor (Howey) is a consultant, trainer, keynote speaker and lecturer, specialising in the tourism and hospitality sector. In senior Sales & Marketing roles for 17 years, Kate’s industry experience includes International Export, SME and a wide range of Tourism & Hospitality businesses. Kate is currently working with private clients and through various mentor panels, offering

mentoring & guidance in strategic business planning and all aspects of sales & marketing management. With a real understanding of the hurdles tourism businesses face, Kate’s core objective is to provide her clients with the skills, tools and strategy to achieve results. Kate develops and facilitates a wide range of workshops for clients such as Fáilte Ireland, The

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Rubicon Centre, The Marketing Institute of Ireland and Leadership Management Ireland. Recent workshop topics have included ‘Marketing on a Shoestring’, ‘Strategic International Leads Management’ and ‘Consultative Selling for Small Businesses’.

With a dynamic & engaging facilitation style, Kate excels in adapting the delivery of content to suit the needs of the participants. As well as holding an honours degree in European Business Studies, Kate is still highly regarded for her academic lecturing and research. With 15 years lecturing experience in a wide range of business subjects including Marketing, Sales Management and Strategic Management, Kate’s philosophy is to translate the textbook learnings into real life applications and to bring the theory alive for students. Kate’s current academic research focuses on “Co-opetition in Tourism Destinations”. Kate has lived and worked all over the globe, including the Far East, Middle East, Germany & Holland and brings this international and cross cultural expertise to her working life.

Cathy Wolfe, Connemara Wild Escapes‘Surviving & thriving on the west coast’Cathy co-founded and runs Connemara Wild Escapes, which is a specialist Destination Management Company and Tour Operator with over 450 local suppliers, offering unique 1/2 day, 1 day, multi-day and bespoke activities & experiences to the west of Ireland all along the Wild Atlantic Way. These include local heritage & culture, islands, festivals, castles, wildlife &

ecology, gourmet, equestrian, walking, cycling, fishing and adventure.Connemara Wild Escapes are committed and passionate promoters of conservation and responsible travel. As pioneers in destination management and promotion in Ireland- by commercializing Connemara responsibly, working together with their suppliers, partners and networks; the company actively ensures the destination’s future.

By replicating their responsible destination model of economic viability, social empowerment, and environmental responsibility across the Wild Atlantic Way and all along the west coast counties of Ireland, they create sustainable tourism that ensures long term economic viability in rural west of Ireland. Connemara Wild Escapes are proud award winners of: Gold Award for Best Tour Operator in Ireland - Irish Responsible Tourism Awards 2015 and the Silver Award for Best at Engaging Local People & Culture - World Responsible Tourism Awards 2015. We are a Proud Wild Atlantic Way Ambassador for Ireland and Proud Adventure Ambassador for Ireland.

Cathy is from South Africa where she ran a design studio and then an advertising agency for 10 years in Johannesburg, She and her Irish husband moved to the west of Ireland in early 2010, where they decided to use their marketing and sales skills effectively and started up their tourism business in promoting Connemara. In her spare time Cathy enjoys exploring the west coast, walking and entertaining.www.connemarawildescapes.ie

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2016 Irish Responsible Tourism Awards Finalists

Best DestinationMulranny, Co. Mayo.

Inishbofin Island, Co. Galway

Sheep’s Head Way, Co. Cork

Best for Accessible/Inclusive tourismMobility Mojo

Gleneagle Hotel Group, Co. Kerry

Best for Natural Heritage TourismDoolin Cave, Co. Clare

Burren Nature Sanctuary, Co. Galway

Sea Synergy Marine Awareness & Activity Centre, Co. Kerry

Best Innovation in Responsible TourismGreat Lighthouses of Ireland

The Blackfriary Community Heritage and Archaeology Project, Co. Meath

Best Local Authority Initiative for Responsible TourismLough Muckno - Monaghan County Council

Westport Smarter Travel Bike Buffet - Mayo County Council

Best Tourism Accommodation for Local SourcingHotel Doolin, Co. Clare

Sea View House, Co. Clare

Fuchsia Lane Farm Holiday Cottages, Co. Tipperary

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