Bratislava – 5 reasons to consider it for Meetings and Events

by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua Reputation, Reputation, Reputation I haven’t seen the movie “Hostel” (2005) but it does for the reputation of Slovakia and its capital what “Midnight Express” (1978) does for Turkey. To add insult to injury not a single frame of the movie was actually shot in Slovakia but in the neighbouring… Read more »

The Dean, Dublin – a star is born

by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua The end of austerity In early 2014 following 4 successive years of severe belt tightening and austerity Ireland officially exited the bailout programme imposed by our masters in Europe. The years of hardship were not good for the hospitality sector in Ireland with many hotels re-possessed by the banks,… Read more »

Toronto – such a perfect day

by Padraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua 4th city in North America Toronto has recently overtaken Chicago to become the fourth largest city in North America after Mexico City, New York and LA. Yet when you mosey down Queen Street West or gaze at Lake Ontario from your eleventh floor room at the Westin Harbour Castle… Read more »

On the Road Again – San Diego to San Francisco

by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua The Marvels of Motivational Travel Many of us in the Meetings and Incentives Industry run successful businesses and make a good living because corporations know that extraordinary travel experiences motivate employees to achieve outstanding workplace results. Because this is our job and we’re not actual participants on these amazing… Read more »

3 days in Venice – still crazy after all these years

by Padraic Gilligan, Managing Partner at SoolNua In the field of destination marketing Venice is Coca Cola. It’s up there, profile-wise, with New York and London in the super-brand category, known and recognized all over the world for its utterly unique topology, its ubiquitous gondolas, Carnevale, cruise ships and crowds. Within MICE it’s the incentive… Read more »

What Ireland means to me [Guest Post]

by Domingos Dirceu Franco (Brazil and Jordan) Earlier this week I received an e mail from Domi with this text. I met Domi while he was in Ireland for 3 months to learn English. He’s Brazilian but lives in Amman, Jordan. I really like what he writes because it underlines how destination experiences can be… Read more »

Bob and Janine go to Vienna: a short story

by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua *I recently co-produced the Gala Dinner Entertainment at the Hofburg Palace, Vienna with a dear friend and client in the Finance and Insurance sector. Here’s an account of the evening from the perspective of a fictitious programme qualifier, Bob Newman. A kind of homecoming It was 5:05pm and his… Read more »

Jordan: the Comeback*

By Padraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua * Fans of great songwriters will immediately recognize the reference to Paddy McAloon’s band, Prefab Sprout’s classic 80s album which was entitled “Jordan: the Comeback” [PART 2 on Jordan] The Wadi Rum desert valley where I meet Salem is enclosed by amorphous outcrops of sandstone that protect you from… Read more »

Peaceful easy feeling in Jordan

By Padraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua I like the way your sparkling ear rings lay Against your skin so brown And I want to sleep with you in the desert tonight With a billion stars all around I got a peaceful easy feeling I know you won’t let me down … Written by Jack Tempkin… Read more »

Belfast – what’s the story?

by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua [THIS IS PART 2 OF A TWO PART DESTINATION BLOG ON BELFAST] When Patrick and I started Delaney Marketing Consultants back in the early 90s our sales trips to the US usually involved a tale or two. One story, which became our unique selling proposition, involved our 10 children:… Read more »