Kilkenny’s Newpark Hotel has announced the appointment of a new general management team to acheive its 'ambitious future goals.'
The strategic appointments will see Niall Dunne, who previously held the role of deputy manager, and Mark Flynn, an experienced hospitality professional and member of the Flynn family, take up the shared general management role.
'Eta Sigma Delta'
Mark holds a diploma in hospitality management from GMIT and an honours degree in hospitality from Les Roches, Switzerland and is part of 'Eta Sigma Delta' an honours society in hospitality.
Since completing his studies, he has gained experience from 5-star brands including Relais & Chateau, Four Seasons and Intercontinental Hotel.
Flynn worked at the Intercontinental in Dublin as a duty manager before moving to Cork to the Imperial Hotel where he dedicated eight years in the role of front office manager and then deputy manager.
2000 Weddings
Dunne started his hospitality career 23 years ago in Hayes’s hotel in Thurles. He then moved on to start his hospitality training in the Newpark hotel as part of its trainee management programme.
Once completed, Dunne went on to further studies in GMIT earning a bachelor’s degree in hotel and catering management.
Dunne said he has overseen and been part of over 2000 weddings in the Newpark Hotel. He has worked in every department, both front and back of house within the Newpark hotel, from housekeeping to the kitchens to all F&B departments and management roles within the hotel.
Flynn Collection
The third-generation family run hotel, which is part of the Flynn Collection of hotels, has invested heavily in the property in recent years with refurbishments and upgrades to the value of €250,000, including a new look wedding ballroom and lobby.
Kilkenny Hotel has also said it has diversified its outdoor offering, utilising the extensive grounds to create extra amenities to enhance the guest experience including a wildlife farm, tree top adventure playground, fairy trail and most recently the addition of Jurassic Newpark dinosaur walk through attraction.
'Future Looks Bright'
“We are delighted to have Niall and Mark leading our team. They are both highly experienced and talented local men, as we continue to develop and grow our position as one of Ireland’s leading destination hotels," said John Flynn, owner of the Newpark Hotel.
"There is a strong sense that the hotel is being passed to safe hands. Niall Dunne has over 20 years of service working here at Newpark, and we value him highly as a dedicated and passionate manager."
"On a personal level, I am delighted that my son Mark Flynn is returning home to Kilkenny bringing his extensive experience, knowledge of the property and brand along with passion for the family business to the table. The future looks bright for the hotel under their shared leadership, and it is exciting to see what we can achieve as a team.”
