Day 2 – Insights & Inspiration

DAY 2 | Wednesday 22nd November
from 10am at the Castleknock Hotel

Day 2 will feature a series of brilliant, practical insights and inspiration from industry leaders and operators through talks and panel discussions, as we gather once again to reflect on the challenges and opportunities we face.  

• • 8.30am | Registration open – tea, coffee & pastries available 
    
    
  • 10.00am | Conference begins – Welcome
    Brendan Kenny (CEO, IAAT)
    
    
  • 10.05am | Welcome from Fingal County Council   
    John Quinlivan, Director of Economic, Enterprise, Tourism & Cultural Development at Fingal County Council

• • 10.20am PANEL DISCUSSION – From the Ground, Air and Sea 
    Notes from the activity sector – with Hugh Flood (Director, Lazy Bike Tours), Maria Kennedy (Director, Atlantic Sea Kayaking), René Ravenscroft (Co-founder, Revive North Coast), Shane O’Doherty (Director, Howth Adventures)
    
    
  • 11.00am IAAT UPDATE – On key issues including insurance, standards, lobbying work and plans for 2024 
    
    
  • 11.10am: Tea & coffee networking break
    
    
  • 11.35am: PANEL DISCUSSION – The International View
    with Jean-Yves Lapeyrère (President, European Confederation for Outdoor Employers / EC-OE), Gergana Nikolova (Regional Director, Adventure Travel Trade Association / ATTA), Alberto Bichi (Executive Director, European Platform for Sports Innovation / EPSI) 
    
    

• • 12.15: PANEL DISCUSSION – Marketing Technology for the Activity Sector 
    with Andrea Carini (CEO, FareHarbor), Chris Torres (Director, Tourism Marketing Agency & TourPreneur), Orla O’Keeffe (Head of Industry Digitisation, Fáilte Ireland)

• • 1.00pm: Lunch (included)

• • 2.00pm: PANEL DISCUSSION – Tourism Leaders on the Road Ahead
    With Alice Mansergh (CEO, Tourism Ireland), John McGrillen (CEO, Tourism Northern Ireland), Orla Carroll (Director Product Development, Fáilte Ireland), Shane Young (Chair, IAAT and Director, Killary Adventure)

• • 2.50pm: KEYNOTE – ‘ADVENTURNOMICS’: DAVID McWILLIAMS – Economist, Writer & Journalist
    
    
  • 3.30pm: David McWilliams Q&A with Pól O’Conghaile. 

• • 3.50pm: CLOSING with Shane Young (Chair, IAAT and Director, Killary Adventure) 

• • NETWORKING – Tea, Coffee & Refreshments

INFORMATION POINTS & CLINIC STANDS offering practical supports will also be available in the foyer for practical supports throughout the day.

*times and content may be subject to change

4 REASONS TO ATTEND

BE INFORMED
by hearing from and meeting industry colleagues and leaders on the key issues facing our industry, and the future of adventure tourism

BE CONNECTED
through networking and collaboration opportunities across both days

BE INSPIRED
by an extraordinary keynote and other speakers

BE EXHILIRATED
by enjoying the local adventure activities on offer 

ABOUT IAAT

Ireland’s Association for Adventure Tourism (IAAT) is the representative body for over 250 adventure activity tourism operators, in a sector that employs over 8,000 people across every county on the island of Ireland.

Our members include adventure centres, waterparks, tour operators and businesses offering kayaking, biking, hiking, rafting, horse-riding, coasteering, and many more activities. These businesses offer enjoyable activities to both domestic and international markets, activities that promote positive physical & mental health, as well as risk education in controlled settings and pathways to long-term participation.

IAAT is partnered with the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC), the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance (NITA), Fáilte Ireland, FareHarbor, Tourism Northern Ireland, Leave No Trace, Sustainable Travel Ireland, the European Confederation of Outdoor Employers (EC-OE) and the European Platform for Sport Innovation (EPSI).

Benefits of IAAT membership includes representation & lobbying, being part of a community of industry peers, free or discounted access to training workshops and events, insurance support including access of application to the member group scheme, and discounted access to equipment.

The adventure activity sector brings in over €1bn / £870m in annual tourism revenue to Ireland.

‘A FORCE OF NATURE’ – CONFERENCE THEME
The Conference theme for 2023 is ‘A Force of Nature’, reflecting our pride in the Irish landscape, our role in protecting it, and our determination for Ireland to realise the potential of becoming a world leader in adventure tourism!