RIT Vacations looks ahead to more growth in 2027 following a banner year

With 2026 finishing up as a banner year for RIT Vacations, president and founder Ian Duffy is already looking ahead to what’s in store in 2027.

“2026 was a brilliant year — and numbers, volume, sales, everything was our best year ever —so delighted with that,” Duffy shared during a reception in Toronto yesterday. “We have approximately 230 scheduled departures to fill in 2027, and it sounds scary at first and that, but we have a great team behind us and great support, and hopefully we will fill that and be as successful as we were in 2026.”

The Toronto event featured a performance by members of the choir from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, and kicked off the RIT UK and Ireland Showcase with stops in Mississauga, Ajax, Kingston and Ottawa alongside 17 partners from Ireland and the UK.

The Toronto reception featured a performance by members of the choir from St. Patrick’s Cathedral on location from Dublin, Ireland 

“I’d just like to remind everyone in the room that RIT Vacations, Royal Irish Tours, we’re a Canadian company and we’re very proud of the fact that we’re a Canadian company… One of the only real Canadian companies in Canada promoting these destinations,” he said, adding that 95% of its travellers are Canadian. “We are a family-run company, all my children are now involved in the business, so I can relax a little bit more and let them do all the hard grind, which I’m looking forward to, slowing down quite a bit and letting them take over and bring it to newer levels.”

In addition to tours, RIT also has a big FIT program in Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland.

“To all our travel agency travel agency partners, thank you for your support, and I urge you to keep that support coming,” he added.

Branching out into one-offs

Following the recent UK Legends of Rock Music History Tour hosted by rock broadcaster and music journalist Alan Cross, Duffy announced that the tour operator will also expand its special one-off itineraries, with the goal of more music-themed collaborations as well.

These one-off itineraries include Journey to Wales with Jules Hudson of BBC’s Escape to the Country, which sold out the day after it was announced.

The sales mission taking place this week features 17 partners from Ireland and the UK 

“For the very first time we’re doing a women’s-only tour called Scottish Spirit in September next year,” he added. “Another one that we’re doing, Irish people will tell you that the home of Halloween was Ireland. So we’ve put on another tour next year. It’s just a one-off tour. It’s called the Celtic Halloween Experience, and that is just a tour celebrating the birthplace of Halloween, and again selling very, very well.”

Spotlight on Wales

One of the destinations where RIT continues to grow is Wales. Notably, the first direct WestJet flight from Toronto to Cardiff on May 23rd this year marked the first direct service from Canada in nearly 20 years.

“We’re very committed to Canada,” shared Stephen Nase, Director of Marketing, North America for Visit Wales. “WestJet launched the first direct flight from North America to Wales in 18 years. I was told this morning that 70% of the traffic was from North America, mostly Canadians and some Americans transiting through Toronto. We’re absolutely thrilled about that and next year is already on sale.”

Conor Duffy, Vice President at RIT Vacations and Stephen Nase, Director of Marketing, North America for Visit Wales

Currently, the seasonal route operates from May to September.

“If I have any say I’d like to widen that window into the shoulder seasons,” he added. “Even without the direct flight, the access from London, Manchester, and Dublin is very easy. It’s an hour and 40-minute train from London to Cardiff. If you fly into Manchester, it’s about an hour drive into the heart of North Wales.”

Notably, Jo Nugent from The Angel Hotel, which is featured on RIT itineraries in Wales including the sold-out Journey to Wales, said the new lift has already made a difference.

“We’ve had a lot more Canadian visitors this year than even last year, you can see it already, and next year we’ve got more groups booked in than this year, so it’s definitely going in the right direction,” said Nugent. “We’re a business called the House of Caradog. We’ve got two hotels and a restaurant, a little art shop, and a bakery, all in the same little town called Abergavenny, and that is about 12,000 people, surrounded by seven hills. So it’s a beautiful place for scenic drives, walking, but most come to visit gardens.”

Notably, Nugent added that Abergavenny is home to an annual Food Festival in September, which is a great option for foodies… and could even be seen on an RIT itinerary one day.

Musical group The O’Deadlys with Jo Nugent and Chantal Gouveia

Chantal Gouveia, the newly appointed Groups & Sales Manager for RIT Vacations, said Wales can easily be paired with a trip to England.

“Wales is such a brilliant up-and-coming destination. For anybody who says they’ve done the UK, they can’t say they have unless they’ve gone to visit Wales,” she noted. “Just going back to the airlift, getting into Cardiff is so much easier than London and avoiding the hassle that is the M25, so being able to get right into the heart of the countryside and miss that busyness.”

In 2027, part of the Tour de France will take place in Wales and for rugby fans, some of the 2027 Men’s Six Nations Championship will also be held in Cardiff. In addition, she said that travel advisors should stay tuned, as there is more come in Wales.

“Keep an eye out on Wales for next year. There’s a lot of exciting things in the pipeline,” said Gouveia. “Aside of sports, one thing I always like to call out is the Welsh National Theatre that doesn’t have a set venue, it travels around Wales. It’s headed by some celebs like Michael Sheen. So if you’re a big fan of art and the live theatre, it’s a fantastic way to avoid those West End prices.”