PRESS RELEASE
Emerald Star attracts key South African Tour Operator – “Sure Tours” to Leitrim – great encouragement for local Tourism and businesses Katha Callaghan, Business Development for Tui Marine Southern Europe and
Kate Bray Distribution Director Tui Marine established the initial contact with Sure Tours Management during a Capetown Boatshow visit in 2009.
A key focus of the Irish Tourist Board in South Africa and the right products “in tow” set the course for a business relationship between Tui Marine and Sure Tours over the last 6 months. The Irish Tourist Board and Sure Tours funded a 5 day educational Trip of 10 Key Sales staff members from Capetown and Johannesburg to Ireland.
The Trip entails a 3-day Emerald Star “hands on product experience” in Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim, as well as other Tui Marine Brand Sales Training led by Katha Callaghan, Insight into Emerald Star Operation led by John Beirne, Base Manager, followed by a tour to the Cliffs of Moher and Dublin.
Karen Eager, Head of Department Europe/UK Sure Tours – comments after the first day – “ The training on the Emerald Star cruisers, the sunshine on the day of our arrival plus the Irish Charm has certainly made this a successful trip and we believe there is a huge opportunity in marketing the Emerald Star Product lines
and the other related Tui Marine Brands to our customer base”.
Local businesses in Carrick on Shannon saw a good opportunity in attracting additional business to the Leitrim area and supported this event actively Award Winning Restaurant Oarsman, Carrick on Shannon, Restaurant Cox’s Steakhouse Dromod, The Bakery and Delicatessen, Carrick on Shannon, The Computer Store, Carrick on Shannon.
• About Sure Tours – www.suretours.co.za
Sure Tours is part of the Sure Travel group – one of the largest travel consortiums in
South Africa – Head Office in Capetown– covering 15% of the market share in South
African Travel Industry. The product range is sold through more than 1000 retail travel
consultants and an additional total Travel Agency partnership network of a further 408.
• About Emerald Star – www.emeraldstar.ie
Carrick on Shannon , Belturbet, Portumna
The market leader in inland waterways cruising across the Ireland, UK and Europe, Emerald Star, a member of TUI Travel PLC Group, has been offering quality boating holidays for over 40 years. Emerald Star offers the widest selection of cruising holidays, with over 200 different cruising suggestions – including more one-way cruises than any other operator. Emerald Star’s (Le Boat) high quality fleet of over 1,200 cruisers are
superbly styled, comfortably equipped and rigorously maintained to a high standard. No previous boating experience is required and flexible holiday durations of short breaks, one week holidays or longer stays are all available
• About TUI Travel Plc – www.tuitravelplc.com
TUI Marine is the marine leisure business unit of TUI Travel plc (www.tuitravelplc.com ), one of the world’s largest leisure travel companies with 20 million customers and 48,000 employees.
TUI Marine covers a portfolio of water based holiday companies, including 1,000 canal boats ‘Emerald Star/LeBoat’ (www.emeraldstar.ie) as well as 1,500 yachts with its two leading brands ‘The Moorings’ (www.moorings.com) and ‘Sunsail’ (www.sunsail.com).
TUI Marine operates water sports resorts of ‘Sunsail Clubs’, (www.sunsail.com) and two windsurfing centres with ‘Club Vass’ (www.clubvass.com) – from Novice to Expert we have activity on the water covered!
****
For more information and high resolution pictures please contact :
Katha Callaghan
Business Development Manager
TUI Marine: The Moorings, Sunsail, Emerald Star/Le Boat & Club Vass
kathac@tuimarine.com
TEL 00353 71 96 27614
mob 00353 86 77 35204
www.emeraldstar.ie
www.moorings.com
www.sunsail.com

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