Aer Lingus, the Guinness Storehouse and Titanic Belfast are among the Irish tourism names heading to London this week, as around 80 businesses from across the island prepare to meet international travel buyers at World Travel Market 2026.
The three-day event runs from 3 to 5 November at ExCeL London. For the Irish delegation, the aim is to secure partnerships with the overseas tour operators who decide which hotels, attractions and destinations appear in future holiday programmes.
At a glance: World Travel Market opens on Tuesday 3 November. Around 80 Irish tourism businesses are expected to join Tourism Ireland, with meetings aimed at generating overseas bookings and supporting Ireland’s promotional drive for 2027.
Which Irish Businesses Are Going to World Travel Market?
The published Irish exhibitor list spans accommodation, transport, visitor attractions, regional tourism organisations and tour operators. Some entries bring several brands together, including Clayton Hotels and Maldron Hotels, and the Clare Tourism entry covering the Cliffs of Moher Experience and Bunratty Castle & Folk Park.
Hotels and Accommodation
Hotel groups feature prominently, giving overseas buyers the chance to discuss accommodation across several locations through a single business.
- Clayton Hotels / Maldron Hotels
- Hastings Hotels
- O’Callaghan Collection
- Original Irish Hotels
- Scally Hotel Collection
- Talbot Collection
- The iNUA Hotel Collection
- Trinity Hotel Groups
- Hanly Castle Hotel Group
- Slieve Russell Hotel Golf & Country Club
Visitor Attractions and Experiences
The attractions line-up brings together some of Ireland’s best-known visitor stops, alongside heritage sites, gardens and distillery experiences.
- Dublin: Guinness Storehouse, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and Teeling Whiskey Distillery.
- Northern Ireland: Titanic Belfast, Game of Thrones Studio Tour, Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, and National Museums NI.
- Clare: Cliffs of Moher Experience and Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, represented with Clare Tourism.
- Connemara: Kylemore Abbey & Gardens.
For an overseas tour operator, these meetings are a chance to discuss how individual experiences could fit into a city break, a touring holiday or a wider itinerary around the island.
Airlines, Ferries and Tour Operators
Aer Lingus, Irish Ferries and Stena Line are listed, alongside Railtours Ireland First Class. Their presence brings the journey to Ireland and onward travel into the same conversation as accommodation and sightseeing.
Tour and coach businesses include Carroll’s Tours, Cronin’s Coaches, J&K Coaches, Kleemann Tours, Overland Ireland Tours, Holiday Ireland Tours, Cróga Tours and Vintage Tea Trips.
Which Destinations Are Represented?
Northern Ireland has a broad regional presence, with tourism organisations promoting places beyond its busiest visitor stops. The list includes:
- Visit Belfast and Visit Derry
- Visit Armagh and Visit Mid Ulster
- Visit Ards and North Down
- Visit Causeway Coast & Glens
- Mourne Gullion Strangford
- Causeway Coastal Route for Mid and East Antrim
Discover Limerick and DoDublin / DoIreland also feature. Together with the hotels, attractions and tour operators, the line-up gives buyers options for building trips that take in several regions.
How Does the Tourism Ireland Stand Work?
Fáilte Ireland’s event information outlines the stand delivered with Tourism Ireland. Participating partners receive a dedicated desk, with inside and outside desk options, plus access to an online appointment system connecting them with buyers attending the show.
The buyers are tour operators from around the world. Meetings give Irish businesses a chance to present their products, discuss partnerships and negotiate business with the people who put together overseas travel programmes.
This is a travel-industry trade show, so readers should not treat it as a public holiday fair. The published opening hours are:
| Day | Opening Hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 3 November 2026 | 09:30–18:00 |
| Wednesday 4 November 2026 | 09:30–18:00 |
| Thursday 5 November 2026 | 09:30–17:00 |
Why the Focus Is Already on 2027
Although the event takes place in November 2026, much of the Irish delegation’s attention will be on the following year. In its 29 October tourism update, Tourism Ireland described WTM as the beginning of its overseas promotional drive for 2027.
The organisation’s chief executive, Alice Mansergh, said around 80 tourism businesses from across the island would attend. The opportunity is to get Irish experiences in front of buyers while future travel programmes and commercial partnerships are being developed.
What Does Last Year’s Show Tell Us?
Northern Ireland alone sent around 25 companies to the 2025 show, with approximately 1,200 commercial meetings expected during the event. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald joined Tourism Ireland in London to support that delegation.
Those figures describe the scale of the planned meetings, rather than a confirmed total of contracts or bookings secured. They do, however, show why businesses commit several days to the event: it brings numerous potential overseas partners together in one place.
What Does It Mean for Travellers?
For travellers, the effect is likely to show up later in the accommodation, attractions and regional stops offered by holiday companies. A successful meeting in London could help an Irish business become part of a future tour programme, though attendance alone does not guarantee new packages or lower prices.
If you are organising your own trip, the transport companies on the list may already be part of your plans. Our guide compares flights versus ferries from the UK to Ireland, including costs and journey times.
