Coach Tourism & Transport Council of Ireland (CTTC) enjoys AGM in Ennis
Ennis played host to the annual Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland (CTTC) AGM at the start of February. The event was a great success for delegates and for the town.
As CTTC National Director Kevin Traynor explained, “The Coach Tourism & Transport Council of Ireland (CTTC) is the representative body for Ireland’s coach touring companies, and Ireland’s private bus operators. We promote Ireland’s top independent coach hire operators.
“Our members are experts in all types of coach hire and transport solutions including: airport transfers, day tours, extended touring, incentive travel, golf tours, school transport, and scheduled services.
Ennis developed a working relationship with CTTC in 2017 when a group from Ennis Chamber and Ennis Municipal District joined forces to apply for ‘Coach Friendly Destination’ status – an accreditation awarded by the CTTC.
In October 2017 Ennis went on to become only the third town in Ireland to be awarded ‘Coach Friendly Destination’ status by the CTTC. Because the bar is set so high, even now only four places in Ireland have qualified for this much sought after accreditation.
The benefit of this accrediatation forEnnis has been enormous. Awareness has grown amongst coach tour companies and their drivers of the welcome they will receive in Ennis and of the amenities in Ennis Coach Park. These include well-laid out parking facilities, wash facilities for buses, toilet drop and security. The fact that Ennis Coach Park is located in the town centre is another key advantage as tourists travelling on these coaches have instant access to town centre amenities once they alight from the coach.
Consequently, Ennis Poach park (adjacent to Temple Gate Hotel and Clare Museum) experienced a rise in use last summer and CTTC confidently predict it will enjoy further use throughout 2019 and beyond, by its member coach operator companies.
Ennis Chamber issued an invitation to CTTC to hold its annual AGM in Ennis and was delighted when the invitation was accepted. “We know that practically every town an tourist location in Ireland issues an invite to CTTC to host to their AGM, and we are delighted that they accepted our invite, “said William Cahir, Chair of Promote Ennis.
Kevin Traynor thanked, Ennis Chamber for assisting with the organisation of what he described as a ‘very enjoyable and welcoming few days in Ennis’.
Over 50 coach operators (company owners) attended the AGM at Hotel Woodstock, and many stayed in that hotel for the weekend. The group enjoyed shopping in Ennis on Saturday February 2nd and their annual social dinner at the Old Ground Hotel that evening, with guest speaker John Burke .
