The trip kicked off with a minor hiccup – a missed connection in Chicago. But who needs timetables when you’ve got great company? Lynn made the most of it by sharing a glass of vino and a few laughs with Ronan from Newbridge Silver, who also found himself temporarily grounded. Cheers to networking at 30,000 feet… almost!
Touching down in Detroit just in time to hit the pillow, the next day began bright and early with a 6am gym rendezvous. Sleep? Overrated. Instead, Lynn got her cardio in with Finola from EPIC – turns out they both had jet lag and a knack for early morning networking.
Fuelled by coffee and camaraderie, the gang gathered for a welcome breakfast and group meeting, where they were introduced to their “family” for the next four days – a fantastic mix of Tourism Ireland reps and industry pals.
Each afternoon from 4–7pm, it was go-time! Lynn talked the hind legs off anyone who’d listen about Excursions Ireland, squeezed in a 2-minute spotlight pitch, and even snuck in the Kahoot quiz answer (yes, Excursions Ireland is your go-to sustainable DMC connecting travellers to the real Ireland!). She may have almost lost her voice, but Lynn gained a lot of interest.
Next stop: Indianapolis. After another buzzing evening event, Lynn swapped business cards for basketball tickets to see the Pacers take on the Wizards. Hot dogs were mandatory, of course – research, right?
Then came Nashville, where it was all boots, belts, and Broadway. She embraced the honky-tonk life, feasted at Miranda Lambert’s Mexican spot, and went in search of the perfect stetson. Yeehaw!
The final stop: Charlotte, where Lynn wrapped up the four-city sprint on a high note. It was a fitting finale to a trip packed with passionate conversations, reconnections with trusted Irish suppliers, and meaningful moments with U.S. travel advisors who love Ireland as much as EI does.
This Team Ireland tour wasn’t just a success – it was a blast! Lynn left with exciting new business on the horizon. Sláinte to that!
