Davina Bennetto (second from left) World Journeys; with Sofia Hansson, Darragh Walshe and Alison Metcalfe, all Tourism Ireland Davina Bennetto (second from left) World Journeys; with Sofia Hansson, Darragh Walshe and Alison Metcalfe, all Tourism Ireland

Push the green button

There was a certain rugby game on the horizon, as emphasised by the venue for a Tourism Ireland travel trade breakfast in Auckland on Friday morning – The All Blacks Experience in the CBD.

Rugby banter aside, the event also served to emphasise Tourism Ireland’s latest consumer campaign – the Green Button, designed to drive business and strengthen travel intentions to the destination.

‘Press the green button is a metaphor for booking a trip to Ireland,’ says Alison Metcalfe, head of North America, Australia and New Zealand for Tourism Ireland.

Visiting New Zealand for the first time in more than two years, along with Sofia Hansson, director Australia and New Zealand with Tourism Ireland, Metcalfe says the campaign is mainly about promoting for 2023.

‘But there’s no doubt it will also drive business in 2022.’

She says travel advisors can sell Ireland with confidence.

‘The experience is just as good (as pre-Covid) and there has been significant investment in new experiences – covering outdoors, luxury and passion points like food, music and culture.’

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ProMag