Unlocking the Secrets of Unshakable Success: What the ITIC Conference Reveals About Thriving When the World Goes Dark

Here we are again—standing at the crossroads of opportunity and challenge, wondering: how do you build resilience in an uncertain world? That’s exactly the question this year’s Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) annual conference aims to tackle on October 1, right in the heart of Kilkenny at the stunning Lyrath Estate. With an all-star lineup—from tech trailblazer Mark Little to hospitality guru Francis Brennan, and Ireland’s own Minister for Tourism, Peter Burke—this gathering promises insights as rich as an Irish stew. But here’s the kicker: tourism spending dipped 4% in July, and inbound visitors are down 11% for the year, painting a picture of a sector at a crossroads, buffeted by macroeconomic storms and geopolitical shifts. So, can Ireland’s biggest indigenous industry rebound and thrive? If anyone’s got the formulas, it’s these experts pitching strategies just ahead of Budget 2026. Ready to dive deep into what resilience really means for tourism—and your bottom line? LEARN MORE

The theme of this year’s Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) annual conference, taking place in Kilkenny on October 1, is ‘Resilience in an Uncertain World.

The event at Lyrath Estate will be moderated by award-winning broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald and speakers include tech entrepreneur Mark Little, Minister for Tourism Peter Burke, hospitality expert Francis Brennan, Fáilte Ireland chair Ruth Andrews, Dalata CEO Dermot Crowley, Irish Heritage Trust’s Anne O’Donoghue, economist Jim Power, TV personality Timmy Mallett and former ambassador Dan Mulhall.

The announcement comes after figures from the CSO showed tourism spending fell 4% in July as visitors spent fewer nights in Ireland than they did compared to the same month last year.

“This is a time of unprecedented macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty” said Niall MacCarthy, chair of ITIC and managing director of Cork Airport. “The conference is timely and will take place a week before the Budget and tourism performance, priorities and policies are all on the agenda”.

The conference was launched on Thursday by ITIC CEO Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, Tourism Ireland CEO Alice Mansergh and AIB’s CEO Colin Hunt who are all speaking at the conference. Director of Fáilte Ireland Deborah Nolan was also in attendance.

CSO numbers for the first seven months of the year point to an 11% decline in inbound visitor numbers and O’Mara Walsh said “Demand is very mixed and when allied to escalating costs of business, margins are under real pressure.

“Budget 2026 is vital for the sector and the hospitality VAT rate needs to be restored to 9% as per the Programme for Government”.

Tourism is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry and biggest regional employer and ITIC have called Dublin Airport “the key tourism gateway to the island” and urged that the passenger cap be lifted without delay. 

O’Mara Walsh said “The case for investment in tourism is indisputable with an enormous return to the exchequer.

“We need to defend our position in the US market while diversifying into other jurisdictions in these uncertain times. Investing in Brand Ireland is critical if we are to spread demand across other source markets.”

Tickets to ITIC’s conference cost €190 + VAT and a full agenda and details can be found at itic.ie/conf25.

Photo: (l-r) Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, CEO, ITIC; Deborah Nolan, Director of Operations, Fáilte Ireland; Alice Mansergh, CEO, Tourism Ireland; Colin Hunt, CEO, AIB, at the launch of the 2025 Irish Tourism Industry Confederation ITIC conference. (Pic: Maxwells)