Gold Medal is expanding its business into the Republic of Ireland, marking a significant development in the company’s almost 50-year history.
*All details correct at time of publication (20 October 2026)
The launch will extend the brand’s expertise, technology, marketing support and dedicated trade support to travel agents across Ireland, while building on the legacy it has already established in the UK.
Simon Applebaum, Managing Director at Gold Medal, said: “This is a pivotal moment for us. For nearly five decades, we have supported travel agents across the UK with specialist knowledge, flexible packaging and award-winning trade support.
“Extending that partnership to agents throughout Ireland is central to our strategy and reflects our continued commitment to the travel trade.”
As part of dnata Travel Group UK and the wider Emirates Group, Gold Medal combines the scale and stability of a global travel operation with a trade-only, agent-first ethos. The launch follows a series of introductory dinners in Dublin, Limerick and Cork, where Simon and members of the team met with agents to present the brand’s proposition and hear directly from the Irish travel trade.
Over the next two weeks, the team will be carrying out an intensive ‘sales blitz’, visiting travel agent across Ireland to introduce Gold Medal’s capabilities in person. Olivia Martin, Trade Partnerships Executive, will now service Ireland as a whole, following her appointment in December 2025 to support travel agents in Northern Ireland.
Applebaum continued: “We can’t wait to get started meeting agents throughout Ireland, and Olivia’s prior experience means we’re in the best position possible to hit the ground running. She will be helping agents to navigate our product range, maximise earnings, and access the training and incentives that have made Gold Medal a favourite with the UK trade.”
The expansion is further supported by a contact centre team assembled specifically for the Ireland market, who will help agents package complex tailor-made enquiries. This resource is backed even further with the support and expertise of Gold Medal’s experienced trade and marketing teams.
For more information, go to www.goldmedal.co.uk.
