Marketing

Irish Pubs Global officially launched

Irish pubs abroad have always been the hub for the Irish diaspora, believes Kingsley Aikens, Trustee of the Irish International Diaspora Centre Trust, who spoke at the launch of the Irish Pubs Global Hospitality Network in Buswells Hotel, Molesworth Street, today.

The global platform connecting Irish hospitality suppliers with Irish pubs abroad a well as here in Ireland currently has 6,500 members.

IPG seeks to promote the Irish pub as a centre for each community, providing standards, good food, culture and music.

It is a large and growing resource that supports their members through providing management resources and access to premium Irish suppliers.

The Minister for Diaspora Mr Jimmy Deenihan TD launched the IPG initiative stating, “Hospitality is something Ireland is renowned for and this previously untapped network will create new and meaningful connections between the global Irish and Ireland and has the potential to make a major contribution to our country.

“This represents a very important network for Ireland which can be increased,” he stated, “But setting standards for membership of this network is very important too.”

IPG is currently setting standards for this network and it will monitor them.

IPG will provide an important platform for SMEs and suppliers based in Ireland’s hospitality sector to connect with over 7,000 Irish pubs around the world, providing them with an opportunity to export their services, food and drink.

IPG’s Gathering event for Irish publicans is set for February 26th-28th at the National Convention Centre “where publicans at the cutting edge of hospitality in the US, the UK and all over the world – including 300 from overseas – will be attending,” he pointed out.

As part of a major worldwide initiative IPG is to bring the LVA and VFI together with Pubs of Ulster to welcome pub owners and managers from around the world to Ireland at the Gathering.

“This unique conference will build greater links between Irish pub owners worldwide, as well as with publicans in Ireland and will have over 350 overseas investors and showcase business owners representing the Irish hospitality industry,” explained IPG’s Founder and President Enda O’Coineen.

IPG Patron Bord Bia’s Chairman Michael Carey also attended the launch.

“For me this initiative revolves around the quality and perception of Irish pubs abroad,” he stated, “If managed correctly this can be a very positive piece of the Irish jigsaw abroad.”

However he believed that the biggest success of the Irish Pubs Global Federation to date had been to get the private and public sector to row in together behind this project.

Another IPG patron, Enterprise Ireland’s Tom Hayes had worked abroad and had found that Irish contacts abroad were always willing to help or open the door to business contacts there.

“IPG will utilise that global network,” he said, “This network can further help and support Ireland Inc abroad.”

The Irish Pubs Global Gathering event is set to run from 26th to 28th February in the National Convention Centre. For more information goto: http://irishpubsglobal.com/

 


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