Robert McHugh speaks to Alan Vallely, general manager of Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort, 'where nature and luxury come together to offer an unforgettable escape.'
Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort opened as Wicklow's first ever five-star hotel under the Marriott brand during the height of the Celtic Tiger in 2002. Since that time, there has been significant investment in the resort including the first ever alteration to the original footprint of the hotel in 2018.
The Neville Hotel Group purchased Druids Glen & Golf Resort in July 2019 and continuing to invest in the property, with Druids Glen Golf Course undergoing a multimillion-euro restoration project.
Alan Vallely was appointed general manager of Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort last October. Originally from Dublin, Vallely joined Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort having previously held the role of deputy general manager at The K Club, in County Kildare.
Prior to working at The K Club, Vallely held multiple senior level positions in hotels including The Four Seasons, Ashford Castle, and Mount Juliet Estate.
How are you settling into your new role?
The welcome from the Druids Glen team, as well as the Neville Family, and ongoing support from Neville Hotel group level, has been wonderful.
We enjoyed a very successful number of months to close 2024, and it was a pleasure to make incremental but meaningful changes to how we operate.
Time on the ground has given me an opportunity to engage with our valued guests, the wider service team, our senior managers and our business partners who all have an important role in the success of the resort.
Time spent with members at both golf courses - Druids Glen and Druids Heath, along with our Health Club membership, has helped me to understand their journey and experience.
This introduction, albeit extremely positive, has allowed me to understand and begin to challenge our service and business ambitions to pave the way for a successful and growth focused 2025.
What was your first job in the hospitality industry, and how did that experience shape your passion and commitment to the field?
My first job in hospitality was at The Merrion Hotel. Being introduced to a new industry, by a property held to such high standards was an eye opener, but certainly helped in forming my ideals of industry and the style of property I would find inspiration in.
Being a sponge, listening to everything, how people spoke, acted, their quest for knowledge and quest for success was inspiring.
Who was your first mentor in hospitality, and how did their guidance influence your growth and development as a hospitality professional?
Every property and the people who are involved at each level can teach you something if you watch carefully and listen. I consider myself very fortunate to have worked with and continue to work with and be in regular contact with industry leaders.
Paul Heery was actually one of my first indirect managers at The Merrion Hotel, although unsurprisingly, I wasn’t high on his mentorship radar when I was serving afternoon tea at weekends in the Drawing Rooms. Many years later, he became one of my most valued and challenging mentors. When under his direction and responsibility, I became food and beverage director and later deputy general manager at The K Club.
Managers along the way such as Tony Coveney and Aidan Dempsey of the Four Seasons, Fergal O Connell of The Fitzwilliam Hotel, Niall Rochford of Ashford Castle, Mark Dunne of Mount Juliet, have all added significant value to my ability to manage diverse and challenging workforces and operations. Each offering a different way of getting across a message of consistency, resilience, control and the value of an unwavering dedication to standards.
Throughout your journey, could you walk us through the various roles you have held in your career and the significant lessons you have learned from each experience?
I started my career at The Merrion Hotel during college (DIT – Cathal Brugha Street). I worked initially in Food and Beverage and later after a short college placement stint in The Marylebone London, A Doyle Collection Hotel, joined the Merrion Hotel’s front office team.
After graduation from college, I joined Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin and worked as a management trainee across all areas of the business. I settled somewhat in Rooms Division and worked as night manager and subsequently as assistant front office manager before being asked to travel to a new Four Seasons opening in the Seychelles in 2010 to provide operational support on standards delivery and operations.
Upon returning home, I joined the Fitzwilliam Hotel as front office manager before returning to Four Seasons Dublin in the same position some time later.
In 2015, I started a role overseeing catering and hospitality operations at a top Dublin legal firm.
In 2017, I started as director of operations at Ashford Castle under the encouraging guidance of Niall Rochford. Niall had watched the property go on a roller coaster journey since he started as a young general manager in 2002. The property was on top, having been named 'Best Hotel in the world' in 2015 and he was intent (and still is) at keeping things just that way!
After this role, I spent two years at Mount Juliet Estate as hotel manager overseeing both hotel properties, The Manor House and Hunters Yard.
In 2021, I was delighted to sign up to a journey The K Club had started. Reopening the property as director of food and beverage, later taking the role of deputy general manager. New ownership, significant investment and cultural changes were afoot. Working with the entire team and owner Michael Fetherston and family on relaunching the estate and its narrative was one of the most exciting, enjoyable and formative projects I have ever been involved in.
In September of last year, I was proud to be announced as general manager of Druids Glen Hotel and Golf Resort, one of Irelands most loved and respected properties. There is amazing opportunity and potential at the resort and in the coming years, I look to drive the business forward and grow our reputation to the heights we are capable of achieving.
Which industry networks have you been a part of that have provided vital support and contributed to your career progression?
For a number of years, I was a proud member of the IHI and attended lots of the gala nights and mixers. I must renew my membership. I’ve made a note for myself now writing this.
In your experience, what are the most significant challenges you have faced while working in the hospitality industry, and how did you navigate through them?
Challenges come and go. Many of those which seemed like the 'be all and end all' at the time have now become a distant memory.
Each period of hardship galvanises you for the next and if you can remember the lesson more than the challenge, you can come out on top. Covid for our industry and many other industries was a huge challenge, but also has a recency bias when considering its impact and how we move forward.
A 'this too will pass' mentality is helpful to apply to each challenge as it offers headspace and clarity to fight your way forward. It is in the most difficult of situations that people look to you for the way forward. The controllable element of immediately 'Knowing how to act' is more important than immediately 'Knowing all the answers'.
Looking ahead, what are your career goals and aspirations, and how do you envision making a lasting impact in the hospitality sector?
Druids Glen has a prime opportunity to reclaim its position as one of Irelands most enjoyed hotels and golf resorts. Significant investment on behalf of the owners, the Neville Family, has been evident.
In my role as general manager, taking the team on this journey is an exciting and motivating challenge.
Making an impact on your team in a consistent, challenging, energetic and positive way, shapes the journey of a property and your leadership career.
What do you like to do when you are not working?
We have a busy home, my partner Joanne, our two children (Noah who is ten and new son Kai who is six months).
When I am not working or spending time with family, I do enjoy playing golf. So I’m in the right place! In 2025, a goal must be to improve on my handicap, hovering unhelpfully around the 14 mark.
We also enjoy travelling, and hopefully, 2025 will bring a number of family trips. I also must get working on that..
