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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua [THIS IS PART ONE OF A TWO PART BLOG ON BELFAST] Throughout our years with Ovation and MCI and now with SoolNua, Patrick and I have spoken at MICE events about destination selection or why certain destinations are so popular for meetings, incentives, conferences and events. While random subjectivity… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua O wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us! Robert Burns “To a Louse” The sayings of my late mother have featured previously in this blog. This time I lead with one of her favourites, from Robbie Burns, written originally in 1785, but… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua Westport was recently voted the best place to live in Ireland, an accolade that has nothing to do with the clemency of the weather there as the town is right on the Wild Atlantic Way where the weather is as unpredictable as the moody Atlantic itself. I’ve experienced blistering… Read more »