11/09/2026
When work is this enjoyable, you almost forget it's work. 💚
Last week, Camille hosted a fantastic group of French MICE agents in Northern Ireland, alongside Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland .
The aim was to showcase not just the destination, but the people, stories, venues and experiences that make a Northern Ireland programme memorable.
They packed a lot into three days:
🍴 Kicking off with the Belfast food tour, getting under the skin of the city through its independent producers and foodie scene.
🥃 A visit to Belfast Distillery Company - McConnell's Irish Wh**ky - a world class Belfast wh***ey brand dating back to 1776, revived inside the historic A-Wing of Crumlin Road Gaol. Our first dram of the trip… not the last.
🚢 At Titanic Belfast, they stepped into the story of the world's most famous ship, with an exclusive first look at the newly renovated event spaces, before dinner at Waterman House and an overnight stay at Grand Central Hotel Belfast.
🎶 The next morning even the coach joined in, with a surprise musical hitchhiker en route to the Giant's Causeway. Science says the basalt columns were formed by volcanic activity; local legend says Irish giant Finn McCool. And because wh***ey before lunch is fair game on a FAM trip, we enjoyed wh***ey on the rocks overlooking that landscape. 🥃
🏨 Next, a site inspection of the newly opened Dunluce Lodge, lunch at Friels Hospitality & Heritage Venue, and time at the Gorta Museum - a moving reminder of the Great Irish Famine.
🐑 Then came a trip highlight: Glenshane Country Farm, with sheepdogs in action, sheep shearing, and plenty of laughter. Authentic, different, and exactly the kind of experience people remember.
Finishing the day: dinner and an overnight stay at the beautiful Culloden Estate and Spa.
👑 The final morning began with an exclusive visit to Ballywalter Park, welcomed by Lord and Lady Dunleath into their family home, and for a little while, the Lord & Lady lifestyle themselves.
🍞 Then it was sleeves-up at Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen CIS, learning to make traditional Irish soda bread - mixed results, but plenty of enthusiasm!
🌊 And finally, Slieve Donard for a farewell lunch overlooking the sea - the perfect last taste of Northern Irish hospitality.
Three days. Countless experiences. A dram or two of wh***ey. A few sheep. And a fantastic group who embraced it all.
This is exactly why we love what we do - creating programmes from behind a desk is one thing; experiencing the destination alongside our clients is another entirely.
Thank you to every partner who opened their doors and shared their stories, and to our brilliant French agents for their energy, curiosity and good humour.
Northern Ireland, you were very good to us. Until next time. ☘️
