by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua Rise up again Twenty years ago last month, after almost 5 years of fighting, hostilities with Serbia came to an end and Croatia started to live and breathe as an independent, sovereign nation. Somewhere in the recesses of my mind there are vivid memories of devastating news reports of Dubrovnik… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua We bent low as we boarded the Bombardier DHC – 8 – 400 direct flight from Dublin to Luxembourg. It was a 1 – 2 configuration with little overhead luggage space, its compact size reflecting in our minds the tininess of its country of origin. Luxembourg is only 82km… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua I won’t lie, I wasn’t looking forward to the trip to London. It was a short 2 night trip sandwiched between two long transatlantic journeys but I could easily have done without it. I was also flying BA to London City airport and staying in the Docklands area around… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua The Mexican government has always understood the special appeal of Business Tourism or MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, events) for its regionality, seasonality and high yield characteristics. Thus side by side with the mass market leisure resorts in Cancun they encouraged high-end developments so you’ll find amazing 5 star luxury… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua Lasting First Impressions It’s such a huge pity your access to the destination is bookended by nonsensical bureaucracy. There are long lines at passport control on arrival and even longer lines at passport control on departure too. In fact you’re lucky to make your flight at all despite checking in… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua The Football Legacy My past trips to Manchester have left very mixed feelings. In February 2001 I sat next to Meetings Industry legend and IMEX Managing Director, Paul Flackett, an ardent Manchester United fan, and watched in disbelief as United put six past Arsenal. A year later, in May… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua I’ve been posting most weeks at the site for over 3 years now and am thrilled to say that I’ve had north of 50,000 readers. Every so often I check the metrics available via WordPress (the platform on which it sits) and I’m always amazed by what I see there: the… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua In our work with the Slovenian Convention Bureau we are currently focusing on the brand value proposition for meetings and events taking our starting point from content created by Spirit Slovenia, the organisation with responsibility for the nation brand and the excellent “I Love Slovenia” campaign. While accepting that… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua Sea Sick Legend To compare my reluctance to undertake the 11km voyage to Skellig Michael to that of an 8th century monk, is, admittedly, far fetched and churlish. My apprehension, after all, was due to a simple physiological lacking on my part: I suffer acute motion sickness and the… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua DC Cool Despite the din of traffic on the circle, the boundless exuberance of Vivaldi filled the air. On one side of the park there was an open air yoga class with about 15 lycra-clad enthusiasts, all moving gracefully through their sun salutations. They seemed to be moving in… Read more »