Meetings par excellence

With all this in mind, I think the combination of golf with business, meetings and incentives is going to grow over the coming years.

Launching in the current economic downturn must be a challenge. How do you counter that?

Fraser: We are linking ourselves very much with an established golf tourism brand. Golf Ireland is part of the golf Scotland group so we are actually representing Scotland at the same time.

It is a business that has been operating for 20 years with a predominant source market from the US.

So what we are doing is extending the source market from the Gulf region and also talking about inbound to the Gulf, Ireland and Scotland from the Asian market - the high end.

We feel we are going to create a new source for incentive trips, that's going to be particularly important from the South Korean market which we are targeting.

Bennett: And we will be offering different packages from five-star to three-star.

How is Tourism Ireland assisting this drive to attract corporate golf business?

Ryan: Our role is very much to facilitate business between our partners here and our partners in Ireland.

We just do our best to help them get in contact with the right people and courses and maybe work alongside each other in terms of marketing support and promotions.

Obviously golf is a major product, it's a small part of the big product, but it's still important and people recognise golf in Ireland.

Is there a need to provide more than just golf?

Fraser: With the conference business, a lot of delegates bring partners with them who want extra activities such as the spas.

So a lot of these venues and hotels will have such things as stables for riding.

Milican: When we have an incentive group with partners then we would have two programmes, obviously the meeting attendees then the partners programme which could include all that.

Do you see the opportunity for much growth in the meetings and golf product?

Fraser: We are starting from scratch, but we see the meetings market giving us the opportunity to handle larger groups.

The average size group is probably no more than eight people, whereas with incentive groups the numbers can be indefinite, especially internationally.

Interest from our Korean contacts includes trips with 60 to a 100 in strength.

Milican: There are very few companies that actually specialise in golf and travel in this region so that is probably the number one key selling point in the sense we know what we are talking about.

Bennett: And it becomes a one stop shop. You go to SNTTA and from the ground onward we take care of Ireland.

What elements does Golf Ireland take care of?

Fraser: On arrival. From there on meet and assist at airports transfers to hotels, to courses, hotels, tee booking times, activities, conference facilities and meeting facilities.

We have an on ground team of about four or five, but then we bring in extras when needed such as transport, VIPs coaches or helicopter services.

Milican: That's why its great having someone here who know the different destinations. We know this destination and for our inbound we package things and sell, but for outbound we need people that know the destination and can put it together. It makes our job that much easier.

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