by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua Prague – off the beaten track Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference If ever there was a place to get off the beaten track and follow Robert Frost’s advice to take “the road… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua One week later and I’m still buzzing from a week in Slovenia. @Supergreybeard and I visited the country for two reasons: firstly, to attend the board meetings of the Foundation of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) and secondly, to participate at Conventa, a MICE trade show for South… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua Love at first sight? With Bratislava, you don’t fall in love at first sight. She’s not that kind of city. She’s a pretty city in many ways but she doesn’t use her beauty to beguile you. She’s not coquettish in the slightest and she never flirts with you at all. Bratislava… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua So the last plane ride of 2015 was atypical. It was a super-short hop, skip and jump leisure / pleasure trip to London with Rita to visit our daughter and son-in-law. But it was another opportunity to experience one of the world’s great cities as a simple visitor, unencumbered… Read more »
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 »