Adrian Cummins Chief Executive of the Irish Restaurants Association outlines innovative and best practice ways of partnering with festivals and cultural events to boost sales at The Business of Fun 2011

2. 2009/10 – FELT LIKE FREEFALL!!

4. but
What condition is our parachute in?
Are we ready for landing/recovery?
Is our business in shape or do we risk of been eaten
alive by the Alligators?
ARE WE FIT FOR PURPOSE?

6. Category Establishments Employees
3,000 est.
Producers (artisan, speciality and small food firms) 320
(Source: Bord Bia)
Hotels 902 52,300
Guesthouses 303 1,900
Self Catering* 421 3,000
*Comprises - 95 Caravan & Camping, 103 Hostels, 196 Group Self catering
Licensed Restaurants 2,295 32,900
Non Licensed
Restaurants 1,337 16,100
Public Houses 7,843 54,000
Food Markets 186 N/A
This includes Farmer and Country Markets, of which 34 adhere to the Good Practice Standard for Farmers’ Markets launched by Bord Bia June
2009
Food Festivals 47
Cookery Schools 42
163,200
Total 13,696

7. 2007 2008 2009 2010
Visitors 9.07M 8.69M 7.64M 6.8M
Revenue € €4.37Bn €4.3Bn €3.4Bn €3.1Bn

14. “It will extend the Government’s
commitment to revitalise the tourism
industry, create jobs and promote economic
recovery.
We hope the initiative will bring 325,000
extra visitors to Ireland in 2013, boosting the
tourism industry, creating jobs and injecting
millions of euros into the economy.

15. It is imagined that the eventual programme will comprise of
three distinct strands:
A flagship festivals programme featuring unique headline
festivals;
A special interest events programme featuring smaller,
intimate special interest, business or sporting events and
festivals;
A community-led [fringe] events programme comprising
events and happenings devised and organised by community
groups at national and local level. Ideally the larger of these
would take place in conjunction with the flagship
programmes.

16. €
?

32. • @adriancummins first focus on the customer
and deliver service then value I don't mean
huge plates but good food at a fair price & a
smile
• @adriancummins look at the Edinburgh
Festivals website. Festivals generated £245m
for the city last year.

33. • @adriancummins regular communication,
ease of booking, access to info & value for
money partnerships with various stakeholders
is whats req

35. • Kenneth Sharp Social media around festivals; the
build up, features on participants, videos,
discussions, competitions. make sure it is interactive
and two way. Adds value to the participants as well
as the visitors. Using it on the day to communicate
what is going on, then using afterwards for follow up,
galleries of photos, videos from events, vox pop
reactions. Keep it going throughout the year, with
follow ups on participants. Give people who visited it
a sense of ownership, means they will come back the
following year!
• 13 hours ago · Unlike · 2

36. Gerard Carthy Taste of Ireland did the pop up
at the Derby in 2009, 15 restaurants, five
Michelin stars...pop up model. Perfect for very
large gatherings, Ploughing, Volvo race
etc...Have the blueprint Adrian if you want.
11 hours ago · Like
Joanne Callan Check out anything to do with
Carlingford Co-Louth, they always do a great
job and have many different festivals
throughout the year, that appeal to all ages.
10 hours ago · Like

37. • Blathnaid Bergin provide something which engages
the community i.e. families and the business
community will benefit as a result.13 hours ago ·
Unlike · 1
• Shane P O'Reilly when it comes to the whole hosp
industry and festivals, we must ensure that prices for
food, drink and accom are reasonable, the old
practice of putting up prices around festivals, such as
Rose of Tralee, Galway Races, Fleadh and others, it
paints a terrible picture both home and away, hope
this helps.13 hours ago · Unlike · 2

38. • Anthony Dunne Check out electric picnic, in
particular Body and Soul element, brings it back
to what festivals really should be like. even have
area for kids 'kids soul' can buy family tickets and
family camping. food wise caters for almost every
type but as with all festivals can be pricey. Many
of the core ideas seem to be taken from
glastonbury but on a smaller scale. Hope this
helps.
• 8 hours ago · Like

39. • Stephen Shortt Special doggy bags from restaurants or
pop up kitchens rather than generic trailers with food.
// Special access to hotel spa, etc to clean your self off
after the festival. // Midweek specials in hotels - stay
Wednesday & thurs, transport to festival, pick up on
Monday eve, stay Monday night, hotel do laundry in
industrial machines, spa on Tuesday and check out on
Wednesday - doesn't interfere with regular higher
paying weekend holidayers... 13 hours ago · Unlike · 2
• Róisín O Toole More activities for kids

41. Thank you
Questions