Irish Hotels Federation

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) is the national organisation of the hotel and guesthouse industry in Ireland. The primary functions of the federation are to promote and defend the interest of its members. The IHF represents almost 1,000 hotels and guesthouses nationwide, employing over 60,000 people and is a key stakeholder in the Irish tourism sector. In my role I supported the implementation of a new hotel classification system; elaboration of international tourism marketing strategy and action plans; market research, value chain and demand analysis for the hospitality and tourism sectors. Project Coordinator (EU Hospitality and Tourism Best Practice Gold Service Programme): development and delivery of vocational education and training programmes for the hospitality and tourism sector; support to the formulation of policy for voluntary organisations. Director (National Apprenticeship Tourism Programme, financed by the Irish Hotel Federation/Ireland Tourism Authority): elaboration and implementation of tourism vocational educational strategies, curricula development and design/delivery of tourism vocational education and training programmes and training impact evaluations for the hospitality and tourism sector (front office operations, restaurant management, food service operations, housekeeping, resort management, club and hotel management, and retail customer relationship for target audiences), through the roll out of a programme to tourism vocational education and training centres, schools and colleges.