The Irish Hotels Federation

Founded in 1937, 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 interests of its members. The IHF represents almost 1,000 hotels and guesthouses nationwide, employing over 57,000 people and is a key stakeholder in the Irish tourism sector.

PRESIDENT

The president of the IHF is elected by the members at the AGM and serves a 2 year term of office.

Mr. Paul Gallagher, General Manager, Buswells Hotel is the current President of the Irish Hotels Federation, and was elected to the position in March 2010

With over 20 years experience in the hotel sector, Mr Gallagher is the 33rd President of the Federation and his term will be for two years. He succeeds Mr Matthew Ryan. The IHF is the premier representative tourism body in Ireland, and the national organisation representing over 900 hotel and guesthouses employing over 57,000 people.

During his presidency, Mr Gallagher plans to give priority to addressing the many issues facing the hotel and guesthouse sector to ensure its continued survival. His core issues include tackling the lack of credit available to businesses, the effect of ‘zombie’ hotels being kept artificially alive by financial institutions and the cost of doing business in Ireland.

Mr Gallagher is a native of Dublin and a graduate of the Shannon College of Hotel Management. He has direct responsibility for Buswells Hotel, Dublin and has previously worked in senior management positions in the hotel sector having been General Manager of the Herbert Park Hotel, Ballsbridge; Blooms Hotel, Dublin and the Memphis Hotel, Amsterdam. During his career, he project managed design, construction and refurbishment projects whilst overseeing all staffing and operational functions at these premises.

For the last 11 years, Mr Gallagher has been a strategic member of the IHF National Council, where he previously served as Vice President. He served as Dublin Branch Chairman, and as a member of a number of its executive committees.

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Mr Tim Fenn is the Chief Executive of the IHF. Mr Fenn has over 25 years experience in senior executive and consulting roles in the private sector.  A native of Cork, he previously held the positions of Chief Executive and Finance Director of FM104.  Prior to this, Mr Fenn was Corporate Finance Manager with Farrell Grant Sparks, a leading financial advisory firm where he worked across many industries in all aspects of corporate finance and business consulting.  He spent part of his early career in the hotel industry working in the family business.

Joy Bradley is Mr. Fenn's PA and can be reached at bradleyj@ihf.ie

 

HUMAN RESOURCES

Manager – Strategic Issues

Anne Lee is responsible for strategic issues arising out of the Tourism Policy Review Group recommendations, as well as general HR career issues. Anne is a former HR Manager in Jurys Doyle Hotel Group and has over 17 years experience in Human Resources. She sits on the Hotels JLC Committee and on several Failte Ireland committees including TMDP, Cultural Diversity and National Apprenticeship.

Employment Services Co-ordinator

Nuala McLoughlin is responsible for employment matters which include QEP, employment legislation queries and career information (Maternity Leave)

MARKETING

Irelandhotels.com Guide

Miriam Young is responsible for the content planning, printing and distribution of the Irelandhotels.com Guide.

Irelandhotels.com Marketing Suite

Keith Browning and Sorcha Dempsey promote the IHF Marketing Suite - www.irelandhotels.com. Lisa Kearney also promotes the Marketing Suite (Maternity Leave)

Associate Membership

Stephanie Howard is responsible for the co-ordination of Associate Members of the Federation.