BOOK TICKETS HERE© National Gallery of Ireland, Photo Roy Hewson
BOOK TICKETS© National Gallery of Ireland, Photo Roy Hewson

DESTINATION

DESTINATION

This year the AVEA annual conference will take place in the Lecture Theatre, located on the lower ground floor of the National Gallery of Ireland (nationalgallery.ie) in Dublin 2.

Please enter via the Merrion Square entrance. Doors will open at 9.15am.

Badge collection and welcome hospitality will take place in the Shaw Room (nationalgallery.ie/virtual-tour/virtual-tour-shaw-room).

While the Gallery offers complimentary locker usage for the storage of small items such as coats, umbrellas and bags, there are no facilities to store overnight cases/bags, and delegates will not be permitted to bring them.

Please ensure you have made arrangements to leave your overnight luggage at your accommodation location. You can read full details on location and accessibility here: nationalgallery.ie/visit-us/visitor-guide

For delegates seeking accommodation

A number of hotels are offering preferred AVEA rates for the conference.

CLICK HERE for details.

We recommend early booking to secure best hotel rates.

PROGRAMME

PROGRAMME

Monday 19th October 2026

Please note: A fully detailed programme with timings and participants will be published here.

Below is a a brief overview of the day.

Please check back for updates as details become available.

***

The programme opens at the National Gallery of Ireland 9.15am with badge collection and hospitality, with the conference in session from 10.00am to 5.00pm, offering expert insights, case studies, and practical discussions to inspire and challenge.

Catherine Flanagan, CEO AVEA
Beyond the Visit: Storytelling for Success in Visitor Attractions

Kim Smit, Director of Collections and Research, National Gallery of Ireland
Welcome to the National Gallery of Ireland

Stephen O’Leary, Founder/MD, Olytico
Social Listening, Storytelling and Thoughtful Moments of Surprise

Orla O’Keeffe, Head of Digital, AI and Conversion, Fáilte Ireland
Beyond the Search Box: Preparing Irish Visitor Attractions for the AI Era

Anne O’Donoghue, Chair, and Biddy Hughes, Vice Chair
AVEA Strategy Briefing: 2027-2031

Six Stories of Success:
Bitesize case studies from AVEA members (Details TBA)

Aidan Power, Director of Marketing, Tourism Ireland
Latest Research on Key Markets: How do our Overseas Visitors Like to Spend their Time Here? Implications for Visitor Attractions

Rory Griffin, Senior Manager, Google – Travel UKI
How Visitor Attractions can React to Rapid Change in How we Search, Scroll and Shop for Holidays

Paul Griffiths, CEO, Association of Cultural Enterprises
Mission Meets Margin: Building Resilient Cultural and Visitor Attractions

Michael Golding, CEO Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions
Five trends from Scottish Attractions to Inspire Better Experiences

Sinéad Rice, Head of Education and Public Programming, National Gallery of Ireland

***

The conference will be followed coach transfers to a special evening event at the world-renowned Guinness Storehouse, providing delegates with a unique opportunity to dine, network and continue the conversation in one of Ireland’s most celebrated visitor attractions, concluding at 9.00pm.

SPEAKERS

SPEAKERS

Anne O’Donoghue

Chairperson
AVEA

Biddy Hughes

Vice Chair
AVEA

Catherine Flanagan

CEO
AVEA

Stephen O’Leary

Olytico

Sinéad Rice

National Gallery of Ireland

Paul Griffiths

Association of Cultural Enterprises

Michael Golding

Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions

Barry Rogers

TOPOSOPHY

Orla O’Keeffe

Fáilte Ireland

Aidan Power

Fáilte Ireland

Kim Smit

National Gallery of Ireland

More Speakers TBA…

SPONSORS

SPONSORS

ACCOMMODATION

ACCOMMODATION

Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin D02 YT21

AVEA attendees can avail of 15% off their Best Available Bed & Breakfast Rate.

HOW TO BOOK: https://www.claytonhotels.com/cardiff-lane/

Insert promo code: DCR1910

This discount is subject to availability and rate at the time of booking, valid until 18th Sept 2026.

Staycity: City Quay, Commons St, North Dock, Dublin D01 DA34

Studios: €231.00 (Single Occupancy incl Breakfast) Book by 31 August 2026
Studios: €242.00 (Double Occupancy incl Breakfast) Book by 31 August 2026.
Rates are per apartment, per night and include 13.5% VAT

BOOKING LINK: Staycity – City Quay

Staycity: 12 Mark Street, Dublin D02 EP98

Studios: €231.00 (Single Occupancy incl Breakfast) Book by 31 August 2026
Studios: €242.00 (Double Occupancy incl Breakfast) Book by 31 August 2026
Rates are per apartment, per night and include 13.5% VAT

BOOKING LINK: Staycity – Mark Street

O’Callaghan Collection: The Mont, 1-4 Merrion Street Lower, Dublin D02 H525

AVEA delegates avail of 10% discount by inserting the code ‘SPECIAL10BB’ in the ‘have a code’ section when booking.

Subject to availability and rate at time of booking.

Website: themonthotel.ie

O’Callaghan Collection: The Alex, 41-47 Fenian Street, Dublin D02 H678

AVEA delegates avail of 10% discount by inserting the code ‘SPECIAL10BB’ in the ‘have a code’ section when booking.

Subject to availability and rate at time of booking.

Website: thealexhotel.ie

O’Callaghan Collection: The Davenport, 8-10 Merrion Street Lower, Dublin D02 DX57

AVEA delegates avail of 10% discount by inserting the code ‘SPECIAL10BB’ in the ‘have a code’ section when booking.

Subject to availability and rate at time of booking.

Website: davenporthotel.ie

Trinity City Hotel, Pearse Street, Dublin D02 FW96

€235 bed and breakfast single occupancy / €250 bed and breakfast twin/double occupancy

CLICK HERE to book by 31 August 2026 for special delegate rates with promo code ‘AVEAconf26’.