Local Tourism Businesses Promote Offaly to International Visitors via New ‘Gathering’ App
Five tourism businesses from Co Offaly are being promoted to international visitors on a brand new app for iPhones and android devices. The app, called ‘Gathering Gestures’, has been created by Tourism Ireland specifically for The Gathering Ireland 2013 and offers a wide variety of ‘gestures’ to ensure our international visitors get more from their holiday here and an extra special welcome in this year of The Gathering.
To date, numerous tourism organisations from around Ireland – including five enterprises in Co Offaly – have registered their “gestures” for the new app, to demonstrate their appreciation to visitors for spending time with them during their holiday in Ireland. Examples of the ‘gestures’ being offered by local tourism businesses include complimentary tea or coffee and home baking on arrival at Ardmore Country House in Kinnitty, Sea Dew House B&B and the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore; as well as a special ‘Gathering’ souvenir gift for overseas guests to Birr Castle Demesne and the shop at Clonmacnoise.
The app is now live – on the international app store – and is free for people around the world to download before they arrive here. Tourism Ireland is promoting the app to prospective visitors through its website, Ireland.com – reaching more than 11 million potential visitors around the globe. The app will also be highlighted on thegatheringireland.com.
The Gathering Ireland is a key focal point of all Tourism Ireland’s promotional activity around the globe in 2013, particularly in countries with a strong Diaspora connection – including Great Britain, the US, Canada and Australia. The Gathering offers an outstanding opportunity to connect with our Diaspora and most importantly, to give them a compelling reason to visit Ireland ‘now’ and Tourism Ireland has a busy programme of promotions under way to capitalise fully on that opportunity. Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “The Gathering Ireland is all about playing to our strengths – Ireland is known the world over for the warmth of our welcome. Every business, no matter how large or small, can play a role in making 2013 our most important year yet for tourism. Our ‘Gathering Gestures’ app is an ideal way to demonstrate our warm welcome and our appreciation of visitors from around the world. We have a busy programme of promotions under way throughout 2013, placing the spotlight on the many great festivals and events taking place in Offaly and right around Ireland as part of The Gathering. Our message is that there has never been a better time to visit.”
For any other Offaly tourism companies who wish to get involved and offer their own “Gathering Gesture”, more information can be found onhttp://gestures.
A gesture can be redeemed on the app by the following steps:
- · step 1: select a gesture category (e.g. “accommodation”, “food and drink” or “things to do”);
- · step 2: select a gesture from the list displayed;
- · step 3: tap to redeem the selected gesture;
- · step 4: show the redeem screen to a staff member.
