Over 60 top US travel writers and editors are visiting Mayo this week, and are attending a major travel writers’ conference.

Ashford Castle is the venue for the Travel Classics International writers’ conference.

Tourism Ireland as the Grand Sponsor of the event, hosted a welcome dinner in the George V Dining Room in Ashford Castle, in association with Brendan Vacations and Ashford Castle. The keynote speaker was Jesse Ashlock, the Deputy Global Editorial Director and US Editor of Condé Nast Traveler.

The Travel Classics International writers’ conference is regarded as one of the world’s foremost networking event for travel writers and editors, bringing together celebrated editors from a wide range of high-profile publications – including titles like Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure and AFAR magazines – which collectively reach hundreds of thousands of readers across North America, as well as globally.

The freelance American travel writers are given an opportunity to meet with assigning editors from the leading travel, food and lifestyle publications in the US. The travel writers and editors will also have the chance to meet with a number of Irish tourism industry leaders, as well as to take part in various pre and post familiarisation visits – so they can experience at first-hand some of the many great things to see and do on a holiday in Ireland.

Paul Kelly, Chief Executive of Fáilte Ireland, said: “This year’s Travel Classics Conference marks the seventh time this event has been hosted in Ireland and Fáilte Ireland is very proud to help organise with our colleagues in Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland.  It is very timely following the recent visit of US President Biden and is further testament to the close bond between our two countries. The event promises to deliver an unforgettable and immersive Irish experience for US media right across the island of Ireland thanks to a series of tours organised by Fáilte Ireland’s International Publicity team and colleagues in Tourism Northern Ireland. The conference will also showcase the breadth of tourist offerings along the Wild Atlantic Way providing a unique opportunity for more than 30 industry partners to engage with US media and share the stories behind these great attractions and businesses.”