AFTER a week of snow, ice, weather warnings and sub-zero temperatures, holidaymakers from across Northern Ireland will
AFTER a week of snow, ice, weather warnings and sub-zero temperatures, holidaymakers from across Northern Ireland will be converging at the ICC Belfast this weekend in the hope of grabbing a holiday bargain at the province’s biggest annual celebration of travel and tourism.
The timing really couldn’t be better for the 32nd annual Holiday World Show Belfast in association with Bookit by NI Travel News as people’s thoughts turn to sunnier climes and booking a holiday in the sun or a break closer to home – anything to help lift those traditional January blues.
For more than three decades now, Holiday World Show Belfast been a ‘must visit’ event for people searching for the best holiday ideas, advice – and deals. It was fitting, therefore, that event founders Maureen Ledwith and Edmund Hourican were joined by a long-time supporter of the event, Jonathan Adair, from travel publication NI Travel News, to carry out the traditional cutting of the ribbon and officially open this year’s show which will run from Friday January 10 until Sunday, January 12.
As head of Northern Ireland’s only dedicated travel publication, Jonathan has supported and worked with Maureen, Edmund and the Holiday World team since the very first show – and now, for the first time, will be attending the event as headline sponsor with Bookit by NI Travel News, a new online travel hub which offers members a range of weekly holiday deals from local travel agents.
Promising ‘a world of travel inspiration’, Holiday World Show Belfast showcases a huge choice of travel options at home and abroad, playing host to a wide range of international tourist boards, destinations, airlines, ferry companies, hotels and B&Bs, visitor attractions, travel agencies and service providers.
Amongst the operators and destinations exhibiting at the show are Malta, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Cambrils, Visit Salou, Port Aventura, Cyprus, Travel Solutions, Air Canada, Punta Gorda & Englewood Beach (Florida), Tunisia, Hays Travel, Stena Line, Irish Ferries, Barrhead Travel, Jet2Holidays, easyJet Holidays, Newmarket Holidays, Wendy Wu, Camino Groups and French camping sites, and many more.
One of the fastest-growing areas of the holiday industry is undoubtedly the cruise sector – which is reflected at the show with a dedicated cruise showcase hosted by local cruise specialist Oasis Travel. Visitors will be able to find out more about cruise holidays from leading companies such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises, MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Marella Cruises and Riviera Travel.
Photo by William Cherry/Presseye
Thousands are expected at the three-day 32nd annual Holiday World Show at the ICC, Belfast. The event which runs from 10.00am to 5pm on Friday January 10 through until Sunday January 12, showcasing a huge choice of holiday options at home and abroad, featuring international tourist boards, destinations, airlines, ferry companies, hotels and B&Bs, visitor attractions, travel agencies and a vast range of service providers. For more information, visit https://holidayworldshowni.com/. Photo by William Cherry/PresseyeAnd for those who like to holiday closer to home, Holiday World Show Belfast, in association with Bookit by NI Travel News, also features a wide range of hotels and accommodation providers, visitor attractions and tourism organisations from across Ireland and the UK.
“If ever there was a time when we need a little ‘pick me up’, it’s January – which is widely regarded as one of the most depressing months of the year,” said Maria Hourican, Chief Executive of Holiday World’s parent company Business Exhibitions Ltd.
“So we would urge everyone to come along to this year’s show and recharge those batteries by booking a holiday and giving themselves something exciting to look forward in 2025.
“We appreciate that, following the huge expense of Christmas, January is a tough month for everyone financially, so we’ve taken that into account in our pricing with tickets costing just £5 – for which visitors will have an opportunity to discover exciting new destinations and experiences, and take advantage of exclusive show offers and discounts to secure some fantastic savings.
“Some lucky guests might even go home with a free holiday if they strike it lucky in one of the many ‘free to enter’ prize draws that will run throughout the show,” she added.
“With family tickets costing just £10 (for two adults and two children), we would also encourage parents to bring the kids along and turn their holiday planning into a fun and memorable experience for the whole family – with lots of family-friendly activities, interactive exhibits and entertainment to keep the kids entertained at the show.”
Jonathan Adair, Managing Director of NI Travel News, said:
“At NI Travel News, we’ve supported the annual Holiday World Show since it first came to Belfast 32 years ago, so we are thrilled to strengthen our relationship further as this year’s title sponsor.
“We have exhibited at Holiday World from the very beginning, but this is the first time we will be showcasing our new membership hub – Bookit by NITN,” he added.
“For more than 35 years, NI Travel News has been the go-to publication and online hub for holidaymakers across the province. With Bookit by NITN, we have now taken our experience in the travel and tourism industry to the next level by providing our members with a weekly selection of fantastic holiday deals from local travel agents.”
Holiday World Show Belfast is also giving children a chance to win one of two return family ferry crossings with Stena Line, on any of the company’s routes between Ireland and Great Britain, through a colouring competition for 4 to 6 year-olds and a drawing competition for 7 to 12 year-olds.
Entry forms are available at the show’s ‘Kids Zone’ or to download from https://www.holidayworldshowni.com/Stena-Line-Colouring-Competition .
What’s more, any children who bring their competition entry with them to submit in person at Holiday World Show Belfast will receive FREE FAMILY ADMISSION to the show for two adults and two children.
Holiday World Show Belfast in association with Bookit by NI Travel News takes place at the ICC Belfast at 2 Lanyon Place, Belfast BT1 3WH, from 12.30pm to 5pm on Friday January 10, and from 10am to 5pm on Saturday January 11 and Sunday January 12, 2025.
Tickets cost £5 for adults; £4 for Senior Citizens and £3 for Students. A special family ticket gives admission for two adults and up to four children for just £10 and a 2-for-1 ticket deal is available online at https://holidayworld.registrationdesk.ie/2-for-1-voucher-belfast/ .
For more information visit https://holidayworldshowni.com/.