Following an impressive marketing campaign across the continent by Tourism Ireland, ebookers.ie can reveal a surge in European interest for the Emerald Isle in 2012. This year has seen a real spotlight shone on Ireland, with international media attention around Titanic’s milestone anniversary as well as the ever-popular traditional St Patricks Day celebrations and the country still thriving from 2011’s high profile visitors Queen Elizabeth and President Obama.

As we prepare for a summer of major events including the London 2012 Olympic Games and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, ebookers.com reveals that 3 million* more Brits are looking to holiday on home soil this year.

Online travel agent ebookers has announced a partnership with SilverRail Technologies to offer domestic and international rail holiday ideas on its websites. ebookers plans to offer stand-alone rail as well as packaged rail journeys including hotels and other travel products.

ebookers.com, one of Europe’s leading online travel agents, has launched its new ‘Weekend Map’, a planning tool that assists travellers looking for inspiration for a weekend break away.

Leading web-developer Fortune Cookie has launched the first social media travel guide - ebookers Explorer. The free App – for use with both iPhone and iPad - allows holidaymakers to discover the world through the power of social networks by sharing what others are saying, seeing and doing.

Online travel agent ebookers.com has appointed Mario Bounas as head of offline marketing for the UK, Ireland, France and Benelux. In the role he will be responsible for building brand awareness in the region, as well as promoting the company’s new proposition book easier, travel happier.