A veteran of the Irish tourism sector, Stephen Cotter has worked with CIE Tours for more than 20 years. Having held leadership roles in the areas of both finance and operations, he most recently served as chief operations officer and had been interim managing director since October 2023.
MORRISTOWN, NJ –
CIE Tours announces the appointment of
Stephen Cotter to Managing Director, overseeing all company operations in the U.S. and Ireland. Since 1932, CIE Tours has been the premier tour operator for Ireland and Britain vacations, earning a reputation for excellence rooted in its signature Irish hospitality.
Commenting on Cotter’s appointment, Lorcan O’Connor, CEO of CIE Group stated, “Under Stephen’s leadership, we can look forward to a period of robust development and sustainable growth. Stephen has a deep understanding of the travel industry and has been a key member of the management team who developed and implemented the current business strategy. His forward-thinking approach and commitment to excellence align perfectly with CIE Tours mission to be at the forefront of the tour operations industry. I look forward to working with him in his new role.”
“I am delighted to be appointed managing director of CIE Tours and to be leading the company as we continue to build on our fantastic heritage,” said Cotter. “As one of the longest established coach tour operators, CIE Tours has a depth of experience and knowledge that is unrivalled. We’re renowned for the quality of visitor experience we offer and we’re now taking that expertise to other markets. The expansion of our tours in Ireland and to other countries will be a key focus for me as we look to grow the company.”
In recent years CIE Tours has expanded its business to destinations including Iceland and Italy. Last year over 35,000 people traveled with CIE Tours, evidence of the continuing demand for quality guided vacations.
Cotter continued, “CIE Tours has always been innovative and as we look to the future, a priority will be to harness that innovation so that we meet the demands of sustainable tourism. The environment is one vital part of sustainability and so too is the economic and social impact of tourism. Through CIE Tours’ commitment to uplift communities, destinations, and the industry we serve, I believe we can build an even stronger offering with responsible tourism at its core.”
“Working with our incredible staff in both Dublin and New Jersey, which includes my leadership team of CCO, Rosanne Zusman and CFO Stacy Riback, I look forward to the continued success of CIE Tours as we meet the many opportunities to grow our business in the years ahead,” Cotter added.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
