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 Scale The sheer scale of London as a destination makes it the perfect crucible for trying out new ideas and concepts in hospitality and MICE. Consequently it’s a rich source of inspiration for those of us, like Patrick and me, whose livelihood is derived from dispensing advice to destinations,… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua From time to time I have been asked where I go for good, on-line MICE content. Within the MICE industry there’s a plethora of good content so here’s my current list of sources. It’s a highly personal selection based on a combination of recommendations and random finds. As a… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua I have had occasion already to engage in on-line debate with James Lancaster, a member of the team at CAT publications and editor of their magazine, Association Meetings International. He’s relatively new to our industry but brings us a fresh perspective and some great writing. Last week James posted a… Read more »
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua James Lancaster of CAT Publications’ Association Meetings International (AMI) hates “annoying inconsistency” and “an excess of meaningless verbiage” (see his excellent recent article here). I’m with him on both counts although now I’m second guessing whether hating an “excess” of meaningless verbiage means that we both actually tolerate small amounts… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua An unusual trip This was an unusual trip. 2 nights R&R at an iconic hotel in Knightsbridge, the delectable delights of London available on your doorstep, followed by a night with your daughter in remote suburbia, several tube stops, a commuter train and a car journey from the excitement. In… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Industry Relations MCI On Boycotting Since August there has been a sustained campaign calling on sponsor corporations of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, like Coca Cola and McDonald’s, to boycott the games in protest at the host country’s appalling treatment of the LGBT community. The meetings industry press has picked… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Ovation Global DMC and Vice President, Industry Relations, MCI Distant Love For over 20 years I’ve had an arms length relationship with her. From afar, like a courtly lover, I could appreciate her unique appeal – petite and svelte, friendly and smart – but I couldn’t quite find the time,… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President MCI and Vice President, Ovation Global DMC Ole, Ole, Ole London’s Convention and Exhibition Centre, ExCeL, is etched in the hearts of most Irish people. For a period last summer it often appeared that the entire facility had been colonised by the Irish such were the ubiquity of tri-colours and… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Ovation Global DMC Snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, further westwards, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling too upon every part of the lonely churchyard where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on… Read more »