On February 14th, just before the Coronavirus crisis broke out, my family and I – Laraine (Business Travel Consultant at UNIGLOBE Alliance Travel in Rotterdam) – traveled to Dublin for a visit with friends. When I travel, I naturally enjoy myself to the fullest, but I can’t help but also look at it through the eyes of a business traveler. I believe it’s important to provide our clients with the best and most current tips and information upon their return.
A short flight and a spacious, well-organized airport
This time we flew to Dublin with Ryanair, with a direct flight of just over an hour and a half. Besides Ryanair, you can also fly directly to Dublin with Aer Lingus or KLM. Flying with Ryanair is fine, but be aware that everything on board is at a cost and the menu can be found on the app or on a sticker on the seat back.
At Dublin Airport, many people were already wearing masks at the time, but otherwise, no other effects of Corona were noticeable. We were picked up by our friends, but what struck me was that the car rental company offices, taxis, and buses are easy to find at the airport.
Dublin Airport is also a very modern and quite large airport. It's so much so that passengers flying to the United States with Aer Lingus can complete their customs formalities at Dublin Airport and then proceed as if they had already cleared customs once they arrive in the United States. This is, of course, always good to know for business travelers heading to the United States.
Discover the highlights of Dublin
Of course, during this family visit, we did all the real tourist activities. On Saturday, a Dublin city tour was on the agenda. Unfortunately, it rained so incredibly hard that this day literally went down the drain. Through the fogged-up windows of the hop-on-hop-off bus, we could only catch glimpses of the Guinness brewery, among other things. Nevertheless, I got a good impression of the city's highlights, so if there's some time left during a business (or private trip), the following sights are definitely worth it Must-sees:
- Guinness Brewery
- Temple Bar district: entertainment area of the city
- Dublin Castle
- Phoenix Park with Dublin Zoo
- St. Patrick's Cathedral
- National Gallery of Ireland
- Christ Church Cathedral
- Trinity College
Ultimately, after the city tour, we ended up in a typical Irish pub in the Temple Bar district and enjoyed a good glass of Guinness. For the ladies, “a shot of blackcurrant syrup” was added, which somewhat subdued the bitter taste of the heavy beer.
Dublin, also ideal for a group trip or meeting!
We now also have a team within UNIGLOBE Alliance TravelgoMICE) that handles everything related to business groups (Meetings, Incentives, Concepts, and Events). That's why we always look for new developments that they can use for unforgettable group trips. Dublin is indeed extremely suitable for both smaller and larger groups due to the many flights, short flight times, and special city experience. For example, I discovered some very nice and interesting new activities in and around Dublin, and a number of gem hotels that they can certainly consider to create a unique experience for our MICE clients.
I also looked for some good (business) restaurants. For example, Delahunt, Chapter One, and Bloom Braser are very suitable venues for a (business) dinner or lunch. Still prefer something other than a business restaurant? Then go to a local Irish pub in Donnabate, a village just outside Dublin. A place where the whole village gathers on Saturday evening to eat, drink, and watch football. We certainly enjoyed it!
Tips for doing business in Ireland
Finally, 6 tips for when you do business in Ireland:
1. An Irishman wants to know exactly who he is doing business with. Therefore, it's important to develop a personal relationship with an Irish business partner. An Irishman likes to do business in a nice restaurant, but he's also happy to do it in a cozy pub. Especially if you can get to know each other better over a nice glass of “lager” or “ale.”.
2. At a meeting, it is customary to shake hands with everyone present, both at the beginning and at the end of the meeting. During Corona times, this is of course not the case, and an elbow bump is appropriate.
3. Irish people love to discuss things, so take your time. During a meeting, all aspects of the deal often come to the table. Eye contact is very important to an Irish person. They are informal and prefer to use first names instead of Sir and Madam.
4. What is also very important is that an Irishman is not, and does not feel like, a Brit or an Englishman. For many Irish people, British influence on Irish culture is still a sensitive issue.
5. Don't be too formal.
6. When invited to an Irish business partner's home, it's customary to bring a small gift, such as flowers or a bottle of wine. Note that red and white flowers symbolize death for the Irish.
I hope my experiences and tips will help you a step forward in your preparations for your next (business) trip to Dublin. Still have questions when booking your trip? Feel free to contact Contact me or one of my Uniglobe Alliance Travel colleagues!
Curious to hear more about the international experiences of the Uniglobe Alliance Travel team? Anne-Marie Koopmans, Operations Manager, spent a few days in the modern global city of Singapore. She was also happy to share her experiences and (business) tips with you through her blog!