It's been quite the month since my last newsletter. October has had a strong European flavour which I loved. I was in Seville, Spain for the International Tourism Innovation Summit. 4 weeks later, I contributed to the EU Tourism Forum, where tourism professionals from 27 member states convened in Ireland this year as part of the Irish Presidency of the European Union. #BetterTogether is a hashtag I've been using for years and that's the philosophy of the EU in a nutshell.
I've also been on field trips around Fermanagh and Tipperary, was part of collective reflections on the future of education in one workshop and on the future of untended heritage assets in another, as well as hosting our usual training events both online and in person. I discovered no less than five unique, alternative venues for future gatherings that were new to me - each one inspiring in the creative vision that sits behind them and so many tourism and hospitality business.
One of the most special events I was at this month was the 50th birthday celebrations at Aillwee Burren Experience, close to home here in Co. Clare. I read somewhere once that it's far easier to go out of business than stay in business. It was brilliant to be of a large gathering who came together to celebrate the impact and legacy of a multi-generational family enterprise that was borne from amazing creative vision and has stood (and withstood) the test of time.
Yes, October is always one of my busiest months and 2026 seemed to even raise the bar on that. November is looking a little sedate by comparison - all in keeping with the season of Samhain that invites us to settle into the darkness and allow the seedlings of next year to take root.
So with all of those gatherings - where I was either facilitating or part of a conversation that was being facilitated - my head is full of thoughts of what works and what doesn't when bringing a room full of people together. It's what has led to this month's article on getting 'a return on the room'. It's meant to be practical and I hope you find it useful.
I've mentioned before that tourism may be a tonic for our times - October affirmed that for me. I'll take that and welcome some more of the 'good stuff' in November. Wishing you a great month.
Beir bua
This month's article is really practical and it's all about hosting good conversations with good outcomes. One of my very favourites types of work is facilitation - holding space for people to talk and think together in a way that leads to tangible progress. This piece looks into the thinking that has to take place in order to get a strong return on any room you convene. I can identify at least seven different room types, from the group that has talked an issue through for years and now needs momentum, to the team thinking something genuinely new for the first time. This piece looks at the questions that help you identify each room type so that you can prepare in a tailored way that gives you maximum return on the room.
