The live events sector has been one of the hardest hit during the Covis 19 pandemic . Paul is the MD of Avcom ,40 years in business it is one of the largest companies in Ireland working in its field. It produces end-to,end technical & Creative Solutions for Virtual,Hybrid and live events. The company has had to re-invent itself over the last 18 months to work completely virtually. Even though it has been a really difficult time Paul and his team have taken it in their stride, just recently working on The French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Dublin and are looking forward to a brighter future where live and virtual events will work hand in hand.

George and Ella speak to us about their roles in Fair city . George speaks about the arrival of his new son Kody Bloom . They speak about the difficult audition process that all actors face. Ella speaks about her blog "i am a teenager get me out of here" and the challenges that young people face every day with social media pressure. We chat about their current story line and getting back to work during the covid crisis . We speak about their favorite actors and what shows they are watching and what shows they would really like to star in! And we get to hear who they would like to invite over for a dinner date!

On Today's Podcast we talk to Ruth Andrews and Rob Rankin from The Irish Tour Operators Association . We discuss the new guidelines for international Travel. Continued funding for 2021/2022. The return of staff to tourism businesses and the challenges that lie ahead for these companies. Trying to attract international tourists back to our country. How access routes by air will be different and will take some period to recover. The loss of further cruise tourism to Dublin and Ireland from next year. How the tourism industry is ready to get back to work and recover over the next few years.

Remarkable story about 24 year old Jack O Sullivan who is the Founder of MODMO, A company that is producing Modular electric bikes from its base in Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam. Jack started to import bikes from China at the tender age of 17 and assemble them in his garage in Cabinteely. He decided then to make several solo trips to China to source new products which it lead him to Vietnam where he is now leading his company Modmo and hopes to become one of the most successful electric bike manufactures in the World. He has raised over 1 million euro from investor funding over the last 4 months to move his company to the next level in development and production.. He sees growth in electric bikes on a massive scale over the next 10 years worldwide and some of that growth will be in the bike tourism market. A really great listen to such an impressive young man and certainly one to watch for the future. Check out their web page www.modmo.io

The Cruise industry has become one of the most popular form of tourism over the last 20 years. I am joined on the Podcast by Niamh McCarthy MD of Excursions and Crystal Morgan Director at Princess Cruises to discuss the industry and the challenges it faces to get back to operating cruise holidays again. We talk about the worldwide industry, How important the cruise industry is to Ireland generating 50 million euro each year before covid. Issues with Dublin Port,an investment of nearly 1 million euro in Belfast port for cruise terminal , how Guides/Drivers/Retail/Attractions all benefit from Cruise calls. The need for Dept of Tourism and Failte Ireland/Tourism Ireland to put a cohesive strategy in place to attract theses ships and visitors to our shores. Vital for the Island of Ireland's tourism now more than ever as we face the long road to recovery.

Delighted today to be joined by Bruno Schmidt from Pro-Bus and Car and also from Optimum Chauffeur Drive we are joined by Mary McGrath and Sarah Higgins. We talk about the industry in General pre and post covid. The Important role that that this industry plays in the delivering a wonderful experience to visitors to Ireland. The different aspects of the industry (Business Clients/Leisure Tours/Transfers/Airline Transfers/Conferences/Concert Business). How they hope that Failte Ireland's upcoming funding will help many companies to survive and be in a position to get back to business when international travel returns. The arrival of electric cars to their industry and the fear that staff and drivers with such experience,professionalism and knowledge many not return to the industry

Frances Brennan from The Park Hotel joins me today on the Podcast. We talk about his early days in the Industry that brought him to The Park. Some great stories about his travels and his new project , The Lansdowne Hotel Kenmare. We talk about the re-opening of the Industry hopefully this summer and about his positive outlook on life and business. He talks about keeping a diary every day since 1966 ! We also take about some of the great staff holidays that The Team from The Park went on and the infamous grapefruit incident !!! A great chat with a great character.

Delighted to speak to Nicola McGrane on the Podcast. CEO of Conference Partners/Event Partners and Co- Chair of AIPCO. Nicola speaks to me about here about her early days in the Industry after studying Music in UCD. Her respect for people in the industry that she worked with in the early days. The process of organising an international conference in Ireland. Strange requests that she and her team had to deal with during conference and delivering them. We talk about the number of strong women in the Irish tourism industry and how well respected they are home and abroad. Finally we speak about the road-map to navigate our way out of Covid and how Ireland Inc needs to invest and be brave to make sure that we as a country are competing at the top table for International conferences

Paul Carty joins us on the podcast to discuss his long career in the Tourism Industry. From starting out in school in Dunshaughlin ,his time in  Shannon College of Hotel Management and then going on  become GM of Various 5 star hotels around the world. Then making the decision to return to Ireland to become the GM of The Guinness Storehouse. Increasing visitors from 300,000 PA to 1.8 million PA before he retired from the role in  2020. Paul  continues to be hugely involved in the Irish Tourism  Industry as is the current Interim Chairman of Failte Ireland. Paul is one of the true gentleman of the Industry and is well respect throughout the world.

We are joined today by Dermot and Derry Cronin. Dermot in his ninetieth year  speaks about his life in the coach business in Ireland.  He established Cronin's in 1957 and has seen many changes in the industry over the last 60 years. He speaks about how he was one of the founding members of PAMBO and The CTTC.  Dermot also speaks about his families involvement in Cronin's Coaches  and Derry tells us about his time in America and the setting up of the Cronin’s office in New York .