Ireland has been voted the holiday destination with the highest satisfaction rate among US travellers.
The Wave awards, run by US travel magazine TravelAge West, asked travel operators and readers to vote for the winners, with Ireland coming out on top in the "highest client satisfaction" category in Europe.
Ireland beat the other shortlisted countries of Italy, Spain, France and Great Britain.
Joe Byrne of Tourism Ireland, the trade body responsible for promoting Ireland as a destination abroad, said he was delighted with the result.
“Tourism Ireland works closely with travel agents and tour operators across the US to encourage them to sell more Ireland holidays … it is wonderful for us to know that Ireland has delivered exceptional experiences to their clients,” he said.
He also pointed to CSO figures which show a 12 per cent increase in tourist numbers from North America, which he said was “an encouraging basis on which we will build.”
The Western Agents Vote of Excellence awards shortlists are compiled by the editorial staff of the magazine, an industry publication targeted at travel agents.