IHF ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2019

Tourism Capital Investment Public and Private: Ann Doherty is Chief Conference Content Executive, Cork City Council and Chair of the CCMA Economic, Enterprise, Community & Culture Committee (which looks after The Irish Hotels Federation will host Looking Beyond, the 2019 tourism). Local Authorities have a significant role in Irish tourism as a Annual Conference and Showtel Exhibition at the Gleneagle Hotel & primary developer of public tourism infrastructure. Local authorities INEC, Killarney, Co. Kerry, from Sunday 3rd March to Tuesday 5th directly run or provide support to tourism attractions including historic March 2019. houses, castles, gardens, forests, parks and geoparks, blueways and greenways, visitor and interpretive centres, museums, arts centres, Take the time to enjoy the many social events and networking theatres, galleries, lighthouses, historic forts, islands, heritage centres, opportunities throughout the conference and check out great supplier waterfalls, round towers and habitat trails. Ann will provide an update deals and opportunities at Showtel. on current development plans and her perspective on the importance of collaboration and cooperation between local authorities and a range Last year was a record year for tourism visitor numbers and a very of other stakeholders, including local communities, the private sector, good year for many hoteliers. However, with Brexit uncertainty, Government departments and agencies in the shared objective of increases in the cost of doing business, international trade wars, a improving the visitors’ experience. slowdown in European growth and the increase in tourism VAT, there is a significant drop in business sentiment. Colm Hannon is Chief Executive Officer, Adare Manor and Luttrellstown Castle. The five-star Adare Manor and Golf Resort was named Hotel of Our industry has faced challenging horizons in the past and many the Year 2018 at the Virtuoso Best of the Best Awards in Las Vegas last lessons have been learned including the enduring requirement to August. Adare re-opened in November 2017 after being meticulously maintain the quality of product, the quality of service, competitiveness restored to its former splendour and enhanced with newly designed and a focus on exceeding customer expectations and it is in this facilities and features. Following this significant investment, Adare context that the theme of the 2019 IHF Conference is: Looking Beyond Manor now takes its place as a top luxury destination in Ireland and around the world. Colm will share this story and Adare Manor’s plans for the future.

Conference Outline Food and the Customer: Giles Coren is a columnist and restaurant critic who has worked for since 1994. On television, he co- There will be a golf competition on Sunday and this year we are presents Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby as he and Monica introducing a new event, the Battle of the Branches, where teams Galetti travel the world, working alongside staff in the world’s most from each Branch will compete in lots of fun tasks and challenges to spectacular hotels. Giles will explore the innovation and trends he win the IHF Battle of the Branches Perpetual Trophy. Prize giving for sees emerging in food, children’s food choices, the impact of social both events will be held at the welcome buffet that evening. media on eating out, customer expectations and food experience opportunities for hotels in the coming years in a Q&A session with The Showtel Trade Exhibition opens on Monday morning and is Dearbhail McDonald. followed by the Annual General Meeting and elections. On Monday afternoon we are hosting the following four workshops: Wedding Tourism Planning, the Opportunities and Challenges: The tourism Market Trends and Future Opportunities; Quality Employers Attracting horizon is showing a mixed outlook and business sentiment has and Nurturing Talent; Hotel Data Analytics and Driving Direct Booking dropped significantly from this time last year. Paul Gallagher, Past and Opportunities in Innovation, Accessibility and Carbon. President of the Irish Hotels Federation and Chair of the Central Marketing Partnership Group; Maria Melia, Principal Officer in the Brendan Griffin TD, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, will Tourism Marketing, Policy & Impact Assessment division of the present the Irish Hotels Federation Quality Employer and Employee of Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport; Paul Kelly, Chief Executive, the Year Awards at a special ceremony on Monday evening. Fáilte Ireland and Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive, Tourism Ireland will discuss the impact of increased uncertainty on tourism planning and On Tuesday the main conference, chaired by Dearbhail McDonald, the opportunities and challenges ahead in a panel discussion session will be opened by Michael Lennon, President, Irish Hotels Federation with Dearbhail McDonald. followed by brief addresses from the main conference sponsors Dermot McArdle, Head of Business Markets, Electric Ireland and Make it Happen: Sir Anthony McCoy, OBE, The World’s Greatest Jump Olwyn Delaney, Head of Business Development, Pallas Foods. Jockey rode a record 4,357 winners and was Champion Jockey a record 20 consecutive times, each year that he was a professional The Gala Dinner will be held on Tuesday evening and Michael Lennon - a tribute to his stamina, endurance, motivation and dedication. Sir will present the IHF President’s Award. Anthony, known as AP, will share anecdotes of his life as a champion jockey and insights revealing the pressures he faced every day, the dangers of the sport, his unyielding determination and his fear of Conference Speaker failure in a Q&A session with Dearbhail McDonald. Looking Beyond: International speaker, Dr Caroline Casey is a Sessions Summary businesswoman, disability activist, adventurer and ‘dangerous dreamer’. Legally blind since birth, she will share her extraordinary The Tuesday conference sessions are as follows: personal story of coming to terms with her own hidden disability, and turning that perceived “weakness” into professional and personal Sustainability Matters: Will Day is a Sustainability Advisor with PwC success. Caroline believes that true success only comes to those who UK. He believes that sustainability is the single most important never give up and always endeavour to truly be themselves. She will conversation on the planet bringing political, economic, social and share her perspectives on authentic leadership and looking beyond. environmental policy together and that while Ireland is well placed to deal with three global pressures: water, energy and food, we must look at ways to decarbonise. He will share his thoughts on earth as a finite planet and why this matters to us all.

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Brendan Griffin,Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Brendan Griffin is Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with special responsibility for Tourism and Sport. He is a TD for Kerry since 2011 and previously served as a member of Kerry County Council representing the Dingle Electoral Area.

Brendan is married to Róisín and lives with their two sons on the foothills of the Sliabh Mish Mountains on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry.

Michael Lennon, President, Irish Hotels Federation Michael is the 37th President of the IHF. He is a fifth generation hotelier with over 25 years’ experience in the hotel sector. A native of Co Carlow, Michael Lennon is a graduate of the College of Catering, Cathal Brugha Street. He began his career in Chicago before returning to Ireland, where he initially worked with the Great Southern Hotel Group before joining Brian McEniff Hotels. Together with his wife, Joanne McEniff, he owns and runs the Westport Woods Hotel, which the couple bought over twenty years ago.

Dearbhail McDonald, Group Business Editor, Independent News and Media Dearbhail is Group Business Editor at Independent News and Media. A global Eisenhower Fellow, the award winning journalist, author and broadcaster is a recipient of the Mary Cummins Award for Women of Outstanding Achievement in Media. The Newry native is a member of the board of Fighting Words, Ireland’s national creative writing centre for children and young adults and serves on the strategy committee of the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris. A director and trustee of the St Stephen’s Green Trust, Dearbhail also serves on the External Advisory Board of Maynooth University Department of Law. Dearbhail received an inaugural Dublin City University Special Alumni Achievement award for her contribution to public affairs journalism and is an Irish Tatler Media Woman of the Year. Dearbhail holds an LL.B (Law) from Trinity College Dublin as well as a Masters Degree in Journalism from Dublin City University.

Olwyn Delaney, Head of Business Development, Pallas Foods A Hotel Management Graduate with over 20 years’ experience in the foodservice industry, Olwyn has held senior leadership roles in a number of organisations and currently holds the position of Head of Business Development with Pallas Foods. Olwyn has Island of Ireland responsibility for Key Accounts / Contracts including the Major Hotels, Pub and Restaurant Groups on the island. Olwyn is a sports enthusiast, keen golfer, and a passionate Dublin GAA, Leinster and Ireland Rugby fan but her real passion lies in food and the food industry.

Dermot McArdle, Head of Business Markets, Electric Ireland Dermot has over 30 years’ experience within the Irish energy markets and is responsible for business markets energy solutions within ESB Group’s supply business, Electric Ireland. In addition, Dermot is responsible for overseeing ESB Telecoms, Ireland’s leading wholesale telecoms infrastructure and bandwidth solutions provider. Dermot has previously held a wide range of senior management roles including in finance, commodity trading and e-transport. Electric Ireland is one of Ireland’s leading retail brands and the largest energy partner of Irish business.

Will Day, Sustainability Advisor, PwC UK Will works with large national and global companies as well as governments to help them better understand and identify the strategic risks and opportunities that accompany the rapidly evolving global context. He is also a Fellow of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership; Chairman of the Sainsbury’s Foundation Advisory Board; Board member of SDGLead; Chairman of On Purpose and Member of the Council of Ambassadors of WWF (UK).

Previously, he was Chairman of the Sustainable Development Commission, Chairman of Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor, a member of the P&G Sustainability Advisory Board, Chairman of the Overseas Development Institute, Chairman of the BBC Children in Need Appeal and Special Advisor to the United Nations Development Programme. He was also involved with the establishment of Comic Relief. Earlier in his career he worked for Save the Children Fund, Oxfam and the BBC World Service.

Ann Doherty, Chief Executive, Cork City Council and Chair of the CCMA Economic, Enterprise, Community & Culture Committee Appointed as Chief Executive of Cork City Council in 2014, Ann Doherty is responsible for strategic direction and delivery of services for one of the largest local authorities in Ireland. An advocate of empowerment and inclusivity, Ann leads a team of over 1,200 people and is responsible for a multimillion euro budget at Cork City Council.

An experienced business leader with over two decades in senior management roles in Ireland and the UK, Ann has been responsible for the implementation of transformative programmes to deliver change and operational success in large public sector organisations including the Health Service Executive and the National Health Service (UK). In 2014, Ann was named a winner of Ireland’s ‘Most Powerful Women Award’ by the Women’s Executive Network. She is a Director of the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork, Director to UCC Student Facilities & Services Board and sits on the boards of the Marymount University Hospital & Hospice, Visit Cork and Cork University Hospital Charity.

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Colm Hannon, Chief Executive, Adare Manor and Luttrellstown Castle Colm’s career to date has spanned three continents: Europe, Australia & North America, working with both independent and international chain properties. A graduate of Shannon College of Hotel Management, he has completed various summer programmes at Cornell University.

His association with the McManus family dates back to 1997. He acts as client representative on the entire Adare Manor project and has headed up the development team since the property was acquired by the McManus family in 2014. The goal was to position Adare Manor as one of the Leading Luxury Resorts in the world. Colm is chairman of the 2020 JP McManus Pro Am committee, an event which has raised €45 million for mid-western charities since 2010. He represents Adare Manor in its bid to host the 2026 Ryder Cup.

Colm is married to Sue and they have three children, two of whom are pursuing careers in the hotels sector.

Giles Coren, Columnist and Restaurant Critic Giles Coren is a columnist and restaurant critic who has worked for The Times since 1994 with spells also writing for , The Mail on Sunday, Tatler, GQ, Time Out and Esquire. He has published one novel and two works of non-fiction.

On television, he presents Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby on BBC2, having previously fronted Back in Time for Dinner (also on BBC2) and Fake! The Great Masterpiece Challenge on . He presented The Million Dollar Critic on BBC America and Pressure Cooker on Canada’s W Network and co-presented The F-Word with (C4) and The Supersizers Go… (BBC2) with . His authored documentaries include Tax the Fat (, 2007) Eat to Live Forever (BBC2, 2015), My Failed Novel (Sky Arts, 2016) and I Hate Jane Austen (Sky Arts, 2017).

He lives in London and Gloucestershire with his wife and children.

Paul Gallagher, Past President of the IHF and Chair of the Central Marketing Partnership Paul Gallagher, Past President of the Irish Hotels Federation, Fellow of the Irish Hospitality Institute, is the General Manager of Buswells Hotel, Dublin. Paul is the immediate past Chairman and a current board member of the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC). His role in ITIC is to help lead Ireland’s tourism industry to achieve its full potential whilst advocating for pro tourism policy initiatives in support of sustained, long-term growth.

He chairs the Central Marketing Partnership on behalf of Tourism Ireland and is a member of the Brexit taskforce. Paul is a non-executive director of the Convention Centre Dublin and a director of Original Irish Hotels. As well as serving on the Government’s Advisory Group on Small Business, he served as a member of Ireland’s Tourism Recovery Taskforce and the Grow Dublin Taskforce.

Maria Melia, Principal Officer in the Tourism Marketing, Policy & Impact Assessment division of the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport Maria is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the objectives contained in the Government’s Tourism Policy Statement – People, Place & Policy - Growing Tourism to 2025 and associated Tourism Action Plans. Her unit is also responsible for the development and implementation of the policy framework for overseas tourism marketing and sponsor departmental oversight and liaison with Tourism Ireland as well as coordinating the department’s contribution into other Government strategies and policies in so far as they impact on Tourism.

Paul Kelly, Chief Executive, Fáilte Ireland Paul is the Chief Executive of Fáilte Ireland. Paul began his career in Marketing with Procter & Gamble UK and went on to hold senior executive positions with Diageo Ireland, Aviva and the UCD Smurfit Business School. During his career, he has developed many iconic Irish and international marketing campaigns.

A native of Wexford in the south-east of Ireland and a commerce graduate of University College Dublin, Paul brings extensive management and marketing leadership experience to Fáilte Ireland to ensure that the National Tourism Development Authority continues to significantly shape the development of the Irish tourism industry and assists the sector in generating jobs, revenue and economic contribution for Ireland.

Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive, Tourism Ireland Niall oversees the marketing of Ireland as a tourism destination across the world, leading a team of 150 staff in more than 20 markets. 2018 was the best year ever for tourism to the island of Ireland, surpassing all previous records, with 11.2 million overseas visitors, delivering €6.1bn to the economy and supporting over 325,000 jobs across the island. The World Economic Forum has ranked Ireland 3rd in the world out of 136 countries for ‘effectiveness of marketing and branding to attract tourists’. Niall is a business graduate of Trinity College Dublin and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. In February 2019, he becomes President of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. He sits on the Export Trade Council for the Irish Government, is a member of Culture Ireland’s Expert Advisory Committee and an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality in Ireland.

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Caroline Casey Looking Beyond Caroline Casey is an award-winning social entrepreneur, and both an adventurer and a business woman. Committed to building a global movement on inclusive business to achieve an equal society for the one billion people in the world with a disability, she set up several organisations and initiatives centred on disability business inclusion. Her latest initiative, #valuable, reached 810 million people, which resulted in working with the world’s most influential CEOs, brands and platforms to put disability on the global business leadership agenda. Casey is also a TED speaker, a past advisor for the Clinton Global Initiative and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.

Sir Anthony McCoy OBE, The World’s Greatest Jump Jockey Make it Happen Sir Anthony McCoy OBE is the greatest jump jockey of all time. Sir Anthony (known as AP) dominated his sport for over two decades, ending a truly phenomenal career as Champion Jockey for the 20th consecutive year in 2015. He recorded 4,357 wins, including the 2010 Grand National, the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and King George VI Chase. AP is the only sportsman of his kind to have been awarded ‘BBC Sports Personality of the Year’ (2010), the ‘BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement Award’ (2015) and ‘BT’s Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award’ (2015). He is now an ITV racing presenter, ambassador for several global businesses and President of the Injured Jockeys Fund (Professional Jockeys Association), a Trustee for the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust, Patron of Retraining of Racehorses, Patron of Alder Hey Hospital and Ambassador for Tiny Tickers amongst others. Photo: @patchdolanphotography

Conference Social & Evening Entertainment

SUNDAY 3RD MARCH MONDAY 4TH MARCH TUESDAY 5TH MARCH 12.30 Golf on Dooks Golf Links 20.00 19:00 President’s Dinner “Table of Ireland” Reception & Gala Dinner (Black Tie) Competitors must check in 30 minutes before their allotted tee time which will be Gin Reception commences at 19.30 The welcome reception will begin at 7 pm advised in advance. followed by our Gala Dinner. Partnering with Chef Chad Byrne of Chef Sponsored by Celtic Linen and Net Affinity. Collab, accomplished, acclaimed and award- Welcome Reception sponsored by Diageo. winning Chefs from each province and 13.30 Battle of the Branches prospering Commis Chefs from Kerry are Michael Lennon, IHF President, will present paired together for this showcase to develop the IHF President’s Award to an individual Team must check in for orientation at 13.00 and work on a set menu using Irish artisan who has made an outstanding contribution ingredients native to each region. For this in the Brehon Hotel (Mezzanine, 1st Floor). to tourism and hospitality. Teams are required to have registered in dinner the Commis Chefs will be mentored by the best, develop new expertise or indeed advance with their Branch Chair. a different style of cooking. 12 Chefs (a Supported by AIB. Wines by Classic Drinks. Hennessy After Dinner Drink sponsored Powered by Orangeworks Mentor and 2 Commis Chefs per course) will be cooking on the night with a four-course by Edward Dillon & Co. Ltd. Entertainment menu being served. This is an interactive sponsored by IMRO. Ballygowan Water 19.30 Welcome Buffet and unique evening, celebrating food and a provided by Counterpoint. Tea & Coffee by new generation of Irish culinary talent. Not to Java Republic. Join us in the Brehon Suite for the Welcome be missed. Buffet at 7.30 pm. The golf and Battle of the Branches prize-giving ceremony will take Supported by Kings Laundry. Gin Reception, place at 8 pm. Wines and After Dinner Drink by Dalcassian Wines & Spirits. Ballygowan Water provided Wines by Dalcassian Wines & Spirits. by Counterpoint. Tea & Coffee by Bewley’s. Ballygowan Water provided by Counterpoint.

05 PROGRAMME FOR 2019 IHF ANNUAL CONFERENCE SUNDAY 3RD MARCH 12.30 Golf - Dooks Golf Links, Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry sponsored by Celtic Linen and Net Affinity 13:30 Battle of the Branches powered by Orangeworks 19.30 Welcome Buffet Wine by Dalcassian Wines & Spirits. Ballygowan Water provided by Counterpoint MONDAY 4TH MARCH 09.30 Opening of Showtel Trade Exhibition Conference refreshments provided by Counterpoint 10.00 Annual General Meeting - Opening by President and Branch Resolutions 11.00 Coffee in Showtel Trade Exhibition Area. All Coffee Breaks sponsored by Bewley’s & Java Republic 11.30 Elections 11.45 Accounts, Annual Report and Completion of Branch Resolutions 12.45 Election Results and Close of AGM 13.00 Lunch supported by Repak – wines by Irish Distillers followed by dessert and coffee in Showtel 14.30 Simultaneous Workshops WORKSHOP #1: Wedding Market Trends and Future Opportunities WORKSHOP #1a: Quality Employers Attracting and Nurturing Talent Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel Michael Vaughan, Vaughan Lodge Lesley Kelleher and Shauna Callagy, Coyne Research Donagh Davern, CIT Howard Corscadden, Romantic Castles of Ireland Paul Hayden, Fáilte Ireland Jonathan Bryans, Weddingsonline Nuala McLoughlin, Irish Hotels Federation Sharon Griffin, Frog Prince 15.30 Coffee and visit to Showtel 16.15 Simultaneous Workshops WORKSHOP #2: Hotel Data Analytics and Driving Direct Booking WORKSHOP #2a: Opportunities in Innovation, Accessibility and Carbon Kevin Mulvany, Irish Hotels Federation Conor Hennigan, Hennigan Hospitality Services Sarah Duignan, STR Jim Deegan, University of Limerick Brian Reeves, GOPPAR Digital Paudie Healy, Universal Access Caroline Dunlea, Core Optimisation John Lawlor, ESB 19.00 Irish Hotels Federation Quality Employer and Employee of the Year Awards Address and presentation of Awards by Brendan Griffin, TD, Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Drinks reception by Dalcassian Wines & Spirits 20.00 The President’s Dinner “Table of Ireland” supported by Kings Laundry. Wines and After Dinner drink by Dalcassian Wines & Spirits. Ballygowan Water provided by Counterpoint. Tea & Coffee by Bewley’s. TUESDAY 5TH MARCH 08.45 ‘Looking Beyond’ Conference Official Opening: Michael Lennon, President, Irish Hotels Federation Conference Chair: Dearbhail McDonald Sponsor’s Address: Olwyn Delaney, Head of Business Development, Pallas Foods Sponsor’s Address: Dermot McArdle, Head of Business Markets, Electric Ireland Conference refreshments provided by Counterpoint 09.30 ‘Sustainability Matters’ Will Day, Sustainability Advisor, PwC UK 10.15 Coffee in Showtel Trade Exhibition Area. All Coffee Breaks sponsored by Bewley’s and Java Republic 11.00 ‘Tourism Capital Investment Public and Private’ Ann Doherty, Chief Executive, Cork City Council Colm Hannon, Chief Executive, Adare Manor and Luttrellstown Castle 11.50 ‘Food and the Customer’ Giles Coren 12.30 Lunch supported by mytaxi – wines by Irish Distillers followed by dessert and coffee in Showtel 13.50 ‘Tourism Planning, the Opportunities and Challenges’ Paul Gallagher, Chair, Central Marketing Partnership Group Maria Melia, Principal Officer in the Tourism Marketing, Policy & Impact Assessment division of the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport Paul Kelly, Chief Executive, Fáilte Ireland Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive, Tourism Ireland 14.50 Coffee, Closing of Showtel & Showtel Competition 15.30 ‘Make it Happen’ Sir Anthony McCoy, OBE 16.15 ‘Looking Beyond’ Caroline Casey 17.00 Close of Conference by Michael Lennon, President, Irish Hotels Federation 19.00 Welcome Reception. Sponsored by Diageo 20.00 Gala Dinner (Black Tie Event) IHF President’s Award Supported by AIB. Wines by Classic Drinks. Hennessy After Dinner Drink sponsored by Edward Dillon & Co. Limited. Entertainment sponsored by IMRO. Ballygowan Water provided by Counterpoint. Tea & Coffee by Java Republic. Tel: 01 4976459 Fax: 01 4974613 Email: [email protected] Don’t forget to follow us on @ihfcomms. For all the latest conference news #ihf2019

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