Focusing on leadership, wellness, emotional fitness, employee development, diversity and more, Irish hoteliers from across the country are gathering in Portlaoise today (Wednesday 22 June) for an Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) conference – ‘Shaping Brighter Futures.’
Details
The conference, which is taking place at the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise, will hear from a range of expert speakers, including a keynote address from Lord Mark Price, who has over 40 years of experience in unlocking the power of people in organisations.
Statements By IHF President
Denyse Campbell, president of the IHF, said that the heart of every successful hotel and guesthouse is its people, and supporting and developing them is the key to long-term success.
Campbell stated, “As our sector continues to recover from two incredibly challenging years, one of the top priorities for hotels and guesthouses is developing and retaining our people, as well as attracting the next generation of talent into our sector, whether they are joining after formal education, returning to work, or seeking a career change.
“Right across the country, hoteliers are investing in their teams, whether through bespoke education and training initiatives, such as the IHF Skillnet programme, or through an increased focus on well-being, diversity and inclusion at work.”
Campbell said that with great opportunities available in hotels and guesthouses across Ireland, the IHF is encouraging people of all ages to consider a career in the hotel sector.
The IHF president said, “There are an enormous variety of career paths and training opportunities that are constantly evolving in our sector. This is something I have experienced first-hand since I began my career in hospitality with a summer job working in a hotel, through to today, as a general manager.
“Now is an ideal time to consider a career in tourism, given the wide range of exciting options available for people at every stage of their working lives. We know there is an increasing number of people who are seeking greater flexibility in the number of hours they work – particularly those who may be returning to the workforce – and this is something hotels and guesthouses are ideally placed to accommodate.
“We are encouraging those with an interest in working in a vibrant team environment to find out more about the many opportunities and positions available. Few sectors provide such a wide range of options across a variety of skills levels, backgrounds and interests – offering plenty of opportunities to support professional growth while meeting and working with great people and developing skills.”
National Database Of Live Opportunities
A national database of live opportunities in the tourism industry is available at tourismcareers.ie.
Ireland’s Largest Indigenous Industry
Tourism is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, providing employment in every town and county in Ireland, and before the Covid-19 pandemic, over 270,000 livelihoods were supported by the tourism and hospitality sector, equating to one in ten of all Irish jobs, with 70% of these located outside Dublin, according to the IHF, which added that these jobs are crucial to communities, especially in many parts of regional Ireland, where tourism is ‘the only show in town’.
© 2022 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
