Conference of Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland

Shouldn't be advertising the opposition - no i suppose we're all profesional colleagues. The Institute of Technology Tralee will be hosting the 4th Conference of Tourism & Hospitality Research in Ireland on the 10th-11th June. The theme is Reflections: Irish Tourism & Hospitality - A Sucess Story?" (glad they put the ? in) and they have secured an impressive list of keynote speakers including professor and author John Tribe - we've 6 of his books here in the library, Claudia Green, Dir. of Hosp&Tourism @ Pace University, Eamoon McKeon, and Dick Spring. As this is the 4th i was curious to check out previous locations for this bash. Ulster, Waterford and Dundalk. Wot no Dublin? Full conference details from the website or Fiona Tobin in Tralee 066-7191811

What is pro-poor tourism?

How to succeed in cultural heritage tourism!

Gehry, Garish or Gaudi

Now here's just the man to design the new Grangegorman campus for DIT. He put Bilbao on the map though the city has plenty of other great attractions including the BEST covered food market in the whole of Spain. Anyway one of his latest triumpts is the Hotel Marques de Riscal an hours drive from Bilbao, in Elciego, Rioja country.

If you look closely at their photos and virtual tour you'll see that the concrete exterior changes colour as the sun moves across the sky, and as for the titanium roof billowing like a matadors cape (sorry, enough verbosity). The photographs tell it all or book one of the 14 rooms - you'd get valentines night for 375euros. In the dit library we have a number of books in the "HIP hotels" series by Herbert Ypma ....this is as hip as they come.

Failte Ireland Tourism Research scheme

This week Failte Ireland launched their Tourism Research Scheme 2008/09 for the Higher Education Sector. All details on their website but it'll probably get more exposure here than there. Three major enhancements to this year's scheme. The Tourism Research Scholarship for postgrads starting in October at 16000euros per annum. Applied Industry Research Fellowship for a practicing academic to undertake a concentrated period of tourism/hospitality research. And thirdly a Thematic Tourism and Hospitality Research Project offering institutional funding up to a max of 150000euros. Full and complete details on the website.

PS treat the post below as a minor loss of editorial control

It is with great regret that Stephen Dunne (pictured) is leaving us to take up a loftier position at DIT Library Bolton Street. We wish him

Hospitality Expo 2008

Quick post just to let you know that Hospitality Expo 2008 is running in the RDS 4th-6th Feb. This is the biggest trade show of the year for the industry in Ireland. It covers what it says, hotels, restaurants pubs and clubs, with exhibitors, industry experts and a parellel conference. Trade only and there's a fee for the conference

The captain has now turned off the clothes sign

I decided to forgo a photo on this one. Reuters have reported on a German travel agency that has opened bookings on the first nudist flight. Book now for only 499euros travelling in July from Erfurt (careful how you say that) to the Baltic resort of Usedom (not to be confused with Condom i suppose). It's a small plane, only 55 passengers - or bums on seats, they can't check in naked and the crew will be fully clothed "for safety reasons".
How long before Ryanair start charging an excess clothing fee.