The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has announced the winners of its inaugural national Quality Employers Awards, celebrating standards of excellence in human resource management across the hotel and guesthouse sector. The awards, which were presented at the IHF’s annual conference by Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, TD, recognise hotels and guesthouses that attract, empower and develop employees in line with the overall goals and objectives of the Quality Employer Programme.

The Blue Haven has won the Small Hotel Category recognizing it as the top small hotel in Ireland to work in and the award was presented at the biggest event in the Irish Hotel Federations calendar the National Conference at the INEC in Killarney.
Figures published at the IHF’s 78th Annual Conference in Killarney show that strong growth in tourism continues to generate significant jobs growth in the industry. Some 64% of hotels and guesthouses increased staffing levels in 2015, while seven out of ten hoteliers (69%) plan to take on further additional staff over the next 12 months. Tourism now supports an estimated 205,000 jobs in Ireland, equivalent to 11% of total employment. Over 33,000 new jobs have been created by tourism and hospitality businesses since 2011 – accounting for more than one of every five new jobs in Ireland over this period.
Speaking at the conference the Irish Hotels federations President Stephen McNally commented:
‘‘This award is going to a hotel whose selection and recruitment procedures has reaped rewards in terms of employee performance, retention and a high level of customer satisfaction and care. The hotel has developed and implemented a creative and successful employee strategy that integrates fully with the business operations and plans’’.
Commenting on the great achievement, Ciaran Fitzgerald of the Blue Haven said ‘’We are delighted to be recognised with such a prestigous award and it’s a great credit to our fantastic loyal staff and management team’’.
Staff at the Blue Haven Hotel in Kinsale are pictured celebrating their win.
Picture. John Allen