Peter Malone hardly needs any introduction, certainly not in this forum. The man most closely associated with the success of Jurys Hotel Group during the 1990s and its coup de grace acquisition of the Doyle Group a couple of years back, has officially been retired since May of last year. But anybody who ever met Malone (56) will not be surprised to learn that retirement in his case still very much means "business as usual".

The day-to-day focus on managing Ireland’s largest hotel group – which he built up to 30 hotels and 5,200 bedrooms – has been handed on to Pat McCann, his successor. But the energetic and outgoing Malone has carved out a new career as a company director. He is still on the board of Jurys Doyle, chairs three companies -Hibernian Group, Bord na Mona and the Gunne Group - and is also a director of recruitment company CPL. And if that’s not enough, he continues to have an interest in the Shannon College of Hotel Management, his old alma mater, and is a member of the Government’s Review Body on Higher Public Servants’ Pay.

There is no doubt that these directorships came as a result of his business achievements, something of which he is especially proud. "It’s great for the hotel industry. It shows that we are not just hotel managers, we’re reccognised as managers in the broader business sense". Malone believes the Irish hotel industry is at its "healthiest ever". However, that doesn’t mean hotel owners and managers can sit back on their laurels. Training, standards and branding remain vital to the success of individual hotels and groups, he emphasises.

Market Hotels to Local Businesses

He also believes that having the right mix of business is very important, and singles this out as one of the key building blocks to Jurys great success.

"We got a shock back in the 1970s when we relied too heavily on tourism", he explains. "We developed a solid corporate business flow which took the seasonality out of the business, and I would urge provincial hoteliers to market their hotels to their local business communities".

Staff Training Vital

He believes staff training is vitally important but an aspect of the business that the Irish hotel sector was slow to grasp. "We pushed training like hell in Jurys and it benefited us greatly. It meant we had people in place to step into key positions as we expanded the group", he says.

One of the reasons the industry is now relying so heavily on foreign staff, he argues, is that it did not address the training side adequately in the past. "We didn’t train the people – make the business interesting enough for them to stay in it". But he believes that has now changed and that the Irish hotel industry has become "very professional", now offering bright young people excellent career opportunities.

Better Working Conditions

"It bothers me when my children say ‘We never saw you when we were young’ but working conditions in the industry have changed now", he says. "There are no split shifts now, managers are better paid, have pensionable jobs and overall better working conditions", he adds.

Standards too have greatly improved in Ireland, he suggests. "I may have cribbed about Bord Fáilte and its role over the years but you have to praise them on standards which are much tougher here than they are, say, in the UK". The decision to swap his executive role for a non-executive seat on the board at 56 was of his own choosing and timing. In fact, he had planned the handover to Pat McCann to happen sooner, but delayed retirement so that the takeover of Doyles could be bedded down.

Malone replaced Jim Culliton as chairman of Hibernian Group just months before CGU launched its much-awaited takeover bid for the insurance group. That went through without a hitch but presented the chairman, board and management with the challenge of integrating the business of three separate companies – Hibernian, CGU’s Irish operation and Norwich Union – in forming Ireland’s largest non-life group and fourth largest life and pensions company.

The Consummate Hotelier

A consummate hotelier, Peter Malone went straight to hotel management training in Shannon from school in his native Dundalk. Writing not so long ago about his own career in Jurys staff magazine, he recalled how he started work as the front office manager of Jurys Ballsbridge on April Fool's Day. “I remember going into work that morning wondering what the future would hold and hoping that the day that was in it was not prophetic!”

He got his first real break in 1970 when he was appointed manager of the Hillgrove in Monaghan. From there he moved on to The Shelbourne in Dublin and was then appointed manager of Pat Quinn's ill-fated hotel and leisure complex in the Dublin mountains.

Its closure might well have been a setback but Malone's talents had been recognised by Jurys, who hired him in 1974.

Five years in Ballsbridge were followed by an eight-year stint in Cork, where he transformed Jurys on the Western Road into a thriving hub at the centre of commercial and leisure activity in the city. It was back to Ballsbridge as general manager in 1988 and as chief executive of the group a year later. Jurys then operated just three hotels - Limerick was the other one.

"Peter always had enormous ambition and great drive - an ability to challenge the status quo but in a manner which did not make enemies," observed one leading industry figure. But the happy-go-lucky, ebullient hotelier was not an overnight hit with institutional investors. Jurys had gone public in 1986, but the fund managers took some convincing that the appointment of a former hotel manager, rather than a business name with a proven track record, was right for the group.

There was considerable pressure on the new man to deliver in terms of expansion and it wasn't long before Malone hit the acquisition trail. Malone believes the arrival in Ireland of major hotel groups such as The Four Seasons and Westin is going to be good for the industry.

"They are very professional hoteliers who operate the highest standards and by being here, they will help in marketing Ireland abroad which should help everyone in the Irish Hotel Industry", he concludes.

Choice Hotels Ireland has expanded into Galway with their takeover of the Clarinbridge Court Hotel. The core team at the hotel remains unchanged with Martin Brett as the new Hotel Manager.

Pictured at one of the first wedding receptions in the hotel since the takeover are (l-r), Sean Graham, Choice Hotels Ireland; Rhona Kearney, Sales & Marketing Manager Galway; Bride and Groom, Eithell and Joe Doyle; Sheila Dundon Front Office Manager; Dermot Comerford, Area General Manager and Seamus McWilliams, Assistant Manager.

Pictured is Maurice Bergin, IHF Cork Branch Secretary, who recently graduated with a Masters Degree in Hospitality Management from DIT Cathal Brugha St. Dublin, recieving an award for Best Overall Student from Colm Deignan, Horwath Bastow Charleton. This was the first ever Masters Degree programme in Hospitality Management run by DIT and a total of 12 students graduated.

Dublin’s Merrion Hotel has had an eventful year receiving both the RAC Gold Ribbon for 2001 and the AA ‘Hotel of the Year’ award. The RAC Gold Ribbon Award is awarded to hotels that consistently demonstrate a commitment to superlative standards of customer care, service and accommodation.

Pictured is the reception area of the Merrion Hotel.

Brownes Brasserie and Townhouse was recently awarded the Gilbeys Ireland Gold Medal for excellence in catering. Eleven other restaurants were selected for the finals, all of whom received monthly awards and were nominated for the overall title.

Pictured outside his award-winning townhouse is Barry Canny, Owner of Brownes Brasserie & Townhouse.

The Ferrycarrig Hotel in Wexford was recently awarded 4 star status by the AA and RAC. Dr Tony O’Reilly was guest of honour as he unveiled a special plaque to mark the occasion. Dr O’Reilly was staying at the hotel with guests Mr Peter Mandelson; Lord & Lady Andrew Lloyd Webber; Baroness Margaret Jay; Gavin & Alison O’Reilly; Mr Tony O’Reilly Jnr; Dr Robin O’Reilly and Mr & Mrs Tony Smurfit …. to name but a few!

Pictured unveiling the plaque is Dr Tony O’Reilly with Mark Browne, General Manager and Liam Griffin, Managing Director of the Ferrycarrig Hotel.

Mal Dua is a Little Gem!

Mal Dua House recently received the ‘RAC Little Gem Award’. This award is presented annually by the RAC to the best establishment in their diamond/guest accommodation scheme in the UK and Ireland.

Pictured receiving the RAC Little Gem Award is Aideen Byrne, Proprietor Mal Dua House with Graeme Potts, Group Managing Director, RAC Motoring Services.

New Hotels in 2001

Galway’s newest hotel, the Radisson SAS, will open its doors to the public next April.

The hotel boasts 202 rooms overlooking Lough Atalia only a few minutes walk from Galway’s city centre. For a more exclusive stay, the hotel also offers three executive suites and 12 junior suites.

The newest addition to the Four Seasons portfolio of luxury hotels will open up in Ballsbridge, Dublin in February 2001. The hotel will feature 259 rooms and 67 suites.

The Clarion Hotel in Dublin’s IFSC is set to open in March 2001. The new hotel will feature 147 bedrooms, 17 suites, the Kudos Bar serving Asian food, IFSCoffee Bar and Sinergy Restaurant.

Cork Hotel Celebrates a Double!

The Trident Hotel, Kinsale is celebrating a double achievement after being awarded an AA Rosette for Culinary Excellence and a Business Partner Award for Outstanding Service by Cresta Holidays. This is the tenth year running that the Trident has received an AA Rosette.

Pictured celebrating the double is Hal McElroy, Managing Director, Trident Hotel and Gerry O’Connor, Head Chef.

Guinness Group Ireland and Innsight are offering readers the chance to win a case of draft bottle Guinness and a Guinness Sherpa jacket, valued at £100.

Simply answer the 3 questions below and send your answers to Innsight Competition, Irish Hotels Federation, 13 Northbrook Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Closing date: Monday 12th February.

1. What is the theme of this years IHF Annual Conerence?

2. When did Peter Malone, former Chief Executive of Jurys Hotel Group retire?

3. What service does Alderhill Ltd. provide to hoteliers?

Spaace Solutions Ireland Ltd. are hospitality industry software specialists and act as suppliers of the PROTEL property, management system. PROTEL is one of the first systems to be available in a SQL Server version, ideal for larger hotels and groups needing a central reservations system. It integrates easily with many other systems including tills, phones, door locks, energy management and pay TV etc. All front and back-of-house systems are designed by and for hoteliers, being well-proven and reliable with help desk support available 365 days a year.

For more information, contact: Garth McFarlane at 01 667 7977 or e-mail spaace@eircom.net

As one of Irelands leading recruitment specialists, Noel Recruitment now boasts five offices in Dublin along with its first regional office in Waterford which covers the South East and Munster area. The hotel and catering division recruits for all aspects of the industry from front line staff to senior and general management positions. The high degree of success achieved by Noel Recruitment in this industry is based on the excellent levels of personal service the company provides in such a demanding environment.

For more information contact: Director Síle Farrell on 1800 446666 or 087-2901459 Website: www.noelrecruit.ie

Digital Communications Management

Digital Communications Management, an Irish owned company, specialises in hotel and business telephone systems and data communications technology. As sole distributors for the Coral PABX hotel telephone system in Ireland and the UK, Digital Communications Management provide full project management, and has installed the Coral in many of Ireland’s leading hotels.

The Coral is a family of PABX telephone systems, designed in anticipation of future standards and technology. This allows the integration of front house management systems and provides guests with modern services such as ISDN access, voice mail, and direct dial inwards.

Contact: Ronnie Kiernan (01) 405 7777 e-mail rkiernan@dcmgroup.com

Edward Dillon & Co.

Edward Dillon & Co has a long history as suppliers of quality wines and spirits to the hotels and restaurants of Ireland. The company exclusively represents many of the great distillery houses of the world, which include Hennessy, Bacardi, Jack Daniels and Southern Comfort. It also represents many of the outstanding wineries of the world, such as Wolf Blass of Australia, Fetzer of California, Bolla of Italy and Barton & Guestier of France.

Edward Dillon’s involvement with the Irish hotel industry also includes the free customer service of a wine list consultation provided by Alan Crowley, the first Irish Master of Wine and one of only 220 Masters of Wine worldwide.

For further information contact: Edward Dillon & Co on (01) 819 3300.

Pacific Direct

Pacific Direct offers clients an exceptional range of guest toiletries and complimenting accessories to reflect the style of each individual establishment.

The company insists on high quality, innovation and unrivalled customer care, on which it has built and expanded its success and reputation. With newly defined and restructured company strategies Pacific Direct is looking forward to an exceptional 2001. Its carefully developed brand boutique represents some of the most prestigious brands within the industry and as a result Pacific Direct continues to supply to the best hotels across the world.

Contact: Rachel Groom at 0044-1234-347140 or e-mail rgroom@pacificdirect.co.uk

Alderhill Ltd.

Alderhill Ltd., formed in 1996, manufactures high quality, traditional and modern bedside, table and floor standard lamps. Only sustainable hard wood is used and where possible, all components are sourced in Ireland.

Quality products are created by a dedicated workforce of eight staff. Alderhill Ltd. supplies all leading lighting retailers throughout Ireland and products can be seen in many leading Irish and UK hotels.

For further information contact: Valerie English: (094) 81936