Visit USA Committee Ireland Roadshow 2026

The Visit USA Committee Ireland Roadshows took place in Cork and Dublin on 28th and 29th April 2026, bringing together leading US destinations and travel partners with key decision-makers from across the Irish travel industry.

The 2026 roadshow programme visited Hayfield Manor Hotel in Cork and The Leinster Hotel in Dublin.

The roadshow featured a diverse range of sponsors including Visit Detroit, Hertz, Bradley International Airport, Louisville Tourism, Florida Keys & Key West and Florida's Space Coast. Together, they showcased the breadth of holiday experiences available across the United States, from city breaks and fly-drive itineraries to beaches, space exploration, culture, culinary travel and outdoor adventure.

The 2026 roadshows offered a timely opportunity for US suppliers to engage directly with Irish travel trade professionals as demand for long-haul travel continues to evolve. This direct access to senior trade decision-makers is central to the value of the Visit USA Roadshow.

For US destinations and suppliers, the events provided a platform to build relationships, share product updates and support the development of new itineraries for Irish holidaymakers. For the Irish travel trade, the roadshows delivered destination knowledge, product inspiration and practical updates that can help agents and operators sell the USA with greater confidence.

Attendees included managing directors, product developers, marketing chiefs and owner-operators from some of the country’s leading travel agencies and tour operators, including American Holidays, Tour America, Click&Go, Sunway, Best4Travel, Shandon Travel, Cassidy Travel and Travel Department.

The sponsor line-up reflected the diversity of the US travel proposition...

Visit Detroit highlighted a city known for music, culture, sport, food and urban regeneration. The city’s official tourism body promotes Detroit as a destination with new hotels, restaurants, parks, public transport, bike lanes and vibrant neighbourhoods, while the wider Detroit region includes cultural attractions, waterfront experiences and major sporting venues.

Louisville Tourism brought a strong culinary and cultural message to the roadshow. The city promotes itself as an “entirely different type of Southern” destination, with a booming bourbon renaissance, iconic attractions, world-class hotels and a renowned culinary scene. Louisville is also widely positioned as a gateway to Bourbon Country, with the Urban Bourbon Trail offering a strong hook for food, drink and culture-led itineraries.

Florida Keys & Key West showcased one of the USA’s most distinctive island destinations. The official tourism site describes the Florida Keys as a chain of coral islands stretching more than 100 miles into the sea, connected by the scenic Overseas Highway and surrounded by clear turquoise waters ideal for snorkelling, diving, boating and fishing.

Florida’s Space Coast offered a compelling mix of beaches, nature and space exploration. The destination promotes itself as “the only beach that doubles as a launch pad”, with 72 miles of coastline just 45 miles from Orlando. Key visitor experiences include Cocoa Beach, Kennedy Space Center, wildlife viewing, waterfront dining, Port Canaveral and the chance to watch rocket launches.

Bradley International Airport also had a strong relevance for the Irish market, supported by Aer Lingus’ direct Dublin–Hartford flight. This service recently recommenced for the season and offers excellent access to Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.

Hertz also brought an important fly-drive dimension to the roadshow, highlighting the freedom and flexibility that car rental offers Irish holidaymakers exploring the USA. With its vast landscapes, scenic highways, national parks, coastal routes and lesser-known towns and cities, the United States is ideally suited to self-drive holidays.

Following successful events in Cork and Dublin, the 2026 roadshows underlined the continued strength of trade engagement around US travel from Ireland. By bringing US destinations and suppliers directly to the Irish market, Visit USA Committee Ireland continues to support product development, destination awareness and long-term growth in travel between Ireland and the United States