31 Jan 2025
Tourism NI supports US tour operator event
Tourism Northern Ireland was this week delighted to support US tour operator Collette's annual Tour Manager’s Symposium.

The event brought together Collette's tour managers from the UK and Ireland to review best practices, new ideas and explore itineraries.
The six-day gathering was an opportunity for the Collette team to network and brainstorm on how to enhance the experiences for their travellers on tour in Northern Ireland.
The summit included team meetings, group dinners and independent searches for local culture to share with the team.
Participants included new and seasoned tour managers from Collette along with tour delivery partners and design teams.
As part of this year’s event, Tourism Northern Ireland hosted two familiarisation trips to showcase the world-class tourism offering available in the region.
The six-day gathering was an opportunity for the Collette team to network and brainstorm on how to enhance the experiences for their travellers on tour in Northern Ireland.
The summit included team meetings, group dinners and independent searches for local culture to share with the team.
Participants included new and seasoned tour managers from Collette along with tour delivery partners and design teams.
As part of this year’s event, Tourism Northern Ireland hosted two familiarisation trips to showcase the world-class tourism offering available in the region.
These included a visit to Crosskeys Inn in Toomebridge for a culture evening and a visit to Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen in Killinchy for a hands-on bread-making experience.
Following Collette’s President’s Club event, which came to Northern Ireland in 2023, Tourism Northern Ireland worked closely with Collette’s product development team which resulted in a range of new regional experiences being added to itineraries.
This week, the businesses behind the new products and experiences were invited to attend a showcase event during a Tourism Northern Ireland-supported finale dinner at Waterman House in Belfast.
This week, the businesses behind the new products and experiences were invited to attend a showcase event during a Tourism Northern Ireland-supported finale dinner at Waterman House in Belfast.
During the gathering, representatives from the businesses, including Historic Royal Palaces - Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, Blessingbourne Estate, The Boatyard Distillery, Taste & Tour, Glenshane Country Farm , Long Meadow Cider Company, Titanic Belfast and Waterman House, were able to network with Collette tour directors.
At the event, the Collette team were welcomed by Naomi Waite, Director of Marketing at Tourism Northern Ireland.
Ana Rooney, VP of Product Design and Creation at Collette and Katie Palmer, Director of Tour Delivery at Collette, also spoke to those gathered.
The guests also heard from Niall McKenna, who owns Waterman House.
Speaking afterwards, Naomi Waite said: “Tourism Northern Ireland is delighted to continue our strong working relationship with Collette.
“The success of the Presidents Club event in 2023 resulted in a number of new Northern Ireland products and experiences being added to itineraries.
Ana Rooney, VP of Product Design and Creation at Collette and Katie Palmer, Director of Tour Delivery at Collette, also spoke to those gathered.
The guests also heard from Niall McKenna, who owns Waterman House.
Speaking afterwards, Naomi Waite said: “Tourism Northern Ireland is delighted to continue our strong working relationship with Collette.
“The success of the Presidents Club event in 2023 resulted in a number of new Northern Ireland products and experiences being added to itineraries.
“This year’s Tour Manager’s Symposium in Northern Ireland presented us with the opportunity to not only help promote the destination to the Collette network but also increase their product knowledge and awareness of the newer additions to their itineraries.
“We hope this opportunity gave the tour managers further insight into some of the newer products and experiences while also offering them a chance to meet the people behind them.
“We look forward to continuing to build our flourishing relationship with Collette to help promote our destination as effectively as possible.”
“We hope this opportunity gave the tour managers further insight into some of the newer products and experiences while also offering them a chance to meet the people behind them.
“We look forward to continuing to build our flourishing relationship with Collette to help promote our destination as effectively as possible.”