INNSIGHT Childcare Strategy / Taoiseach visits / World Trade Market / Contact
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innsight February 1999

CHILDCARE STRATEGY WELCOMED

The recent publication of the Report of the Expert Working Group on Childcare Partnership 2000 is to be welcomed as it has fundamental implications for our sector. The IHF believes if its recommendations are implemented, it would have a positive influence on increasing the labour force.

The development of a nationally and regionally co-ordinated childcare strategy is essential to allow those who wish to rejoin the workforce easy access to do so. The report's recommendations would increase the availability, quality and access to childcare services. In turn, this would encourage more homemakers to return to the workforce on a part-time or full-time basis - particularly parents who are constrained by the shortage of proper childcare facilities and costs associated. In effect, easing staff shortages being experienced by all industries including the hotel and guesthouse sector.

Among its many recommendations the Childcare report suggests:-

The IHF proposed "Homemakers Revenue Job Assist"' scheme submitted as part of our pre-budget submission to the Minister for Finance would compliment the Childcare Report. Our scheme suggests that qualifying participants would have the ability to earn up to £2,800 a year tax free, for three years, without loss of existing social welfare and other entitlements. Working in tandem with the Childcare strategy, it would incentify a potential labour pool of up to 40,000 people to enter the paid workforce.

Taoiseach Visits IHF Stand at
RDS Holiday Show

The IHF took part in the Holiday World Experience, held in Dublin's RDS recently. This year, attendance figures reached an all time high, with over 55,000 people attending over the four day period - up from 50,000 last year. The IHF stand was almost double the size of last years, with 14 members participating. The Federation also participated at the Holiday World Shows in Cork, Belfast and Manchester.

Pictured at the Holiday World Experience in Dublin's RDS recently were Noel O'Mahony, General Manager, Bay View Hotel & Leisure Centre, Killybegs; An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD; Maureen Ledwith, Holiday World Experience and Lorna McNamara, IHF.

IRELAND TAKES TO THE WORLD STAGE

 Pictured at the event were (l-r): Miriam Young, IHF; Lorna McNamara. IHF and Minister Jim McDaid, T.D.

The IHF was among the 630 exhibitors from 161 countries at the World Travel Market in London recently. The exhibition was attended by over 400,000 visitors from the travel industry in Britain and the rest of the world. The Irish contingent from the Republic and the North was the largest ever, with 87 companies represented and the Irish stand. Organised jointly by Bord Failte and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, it reflected the variety of Ireland's holidays.

innsight is produced with the assistance of AIB by the Irish Hotels Federation

Irish Hotels Federation
13 Northbrook Road
Dublin 6

Phone (01)497 6459.
Fax (01) 497 4613.
E-Mail info@ihf.ie
Web-Site: www.ihf.ie

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QUALITY EMPLOYER PROGRAMME

CAREER ROADSHOW UPDATE

The National Careers Roadshow took place in 38 venues throughout the country from the 9th Nov '99 - 1st Dec., with over 10,000 students attending from 358 schools. This was a great response considering 727 schools were contacted. The students who attended from the various schools, were limited to only those with a specific interest in our industry, ensuring the correct students were targeted.

An extensive advertising campaign took place prior to, and during the event concentrating on local radio and local newspapers and included interviews with well known hoteliers.

Feedback to date has been very positive from all parties. In particular the career guidance teachers were impressed to hear of the many positive initiatives the industry are pursuing such as the QEP and Code of Practice for Work Experience students. The most useful aspect of the roadshow was securing the names and addresses of all participants who attended. This will allow us to contact them during the year to see how successful converting these young people to employees in our sector has been.

2FM Roadcaster Promotion
The IHF, CERT and the RAI hired the 2FM roadcaster to directly promote our industry to young people in January. The promotion ran during the Great Giveaway Show between 9am and 12pm on a Saturday morning. In an effort to create a carnival atmosphere, mime artists dressed as waiters and clowns, flame throwers and stilt walkers were hired also. During the programme, various positive messages about working in the industry were broadcast.

In return for providing prizes, QEP properties got free mentions throughout the programme. A big thank you to all who contributed the excellent range of prizes. The roadshow will be hired again for Cork on the 27th February.

Pictured at the 2FM event at the top of Grafton Street in Dublin were (l-r): Blaithnaid Lynch; Caroline Clancy and Josephine O'Drioscoll, CERT; Anne O'Carroll, IHF and Deirdre Moran, CERT.

If you would like more information on QEP please contact Anne O'Carroll at (01) 497 6459.

Pictured is Bobby Hanley, Lansdowne Arms Hotel, Kenmare, receiving his QEP accreditation from Bill Power, President, IHF.

Other recently accredited properties include-

  • Charleville Lodge, Dublin.
  • Vale View Hotel, Wicklow.
  • Liss Ard Resort, Cork.

WEAR THE BADGE

Let your customers and potential employees know that you are accredited to the Quality Employer Programme by wearing our new QEP lapel pins. Members can order badges directly from Anne O'Carroll at 01- 4976459 in the exact quantities required. The cost depends on the numbers ordered, but will be in the region of 75p each. We hope all QEP members and their staff will proudly wear them.

USE QEP WHEN ADVERTISING

Being a QEP member is an indication to potential employees of the high standards your property maintains and members should use every opportunity to promote this. We would encourage you to use the QEP logo on all advertising and especially when advertising staff vacancies in either local or national press. The use of the logo distinguishes your property from others advertising for similar staff. Already, feedback from hotels and guesthouses who use the logo in all their advertising shows a dramatic increase in response rates.

The IHF can arrange to have the logo sent out directly to you so you can display it on all your advertisements. Please contact Anne O'Carroll for details.

If you would like more information on QEP please contact Anne O'Carroll at
(01) 497 6459

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FAS '99

The FAS Opportunities '99 recruitment fair took place in the RDS earlier this month, with over 100,000 visitors attending. The IHF was represented, sharing a stand with CERT and the RAI, located in the 'career village'.

Several IHF members assisted on the stand during the three days and we would like to thank them for their continuing support. In return for their assistance they managed to recruit a number of people for their own business!

An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD officially opened the fair and pictured with him at our stand were (l-r): John Power, Chief Executive, IHF; Shaun Quinn, Chief Executive, CERT; Henry O'Neill, Chief Exceutive, RAI; Bob Frizelle, Recruitment, CERT and Anne O'Carroll, QEP Co-ordinator, IHF.

Discover Ireland '99

Bord Failte has launched its 1999 Discover Ireland brochure, aimed exclusively at the Irish market. This year's brochure, a 200 page full colour publication is the largest edition to date, and features an extensive choice of 'all inclusive' holiday packages. It also includes the complete range of accommodation categories from 5-star luxury hotels to spacious self-catering premises throughout Ireland. Participation in this year's publication has increased by over 17 per cent from the hotel sector and 7 per cent from guesthouses.

Pictured at the launch were models Amanda Byram and Jenny McCarthy.

ADULT LITERACY PROGRAMME

Dublin branch members got a unique opportunity recently to offer work experience to a number of people on an EU funded Adult Literacy programme. The programme based in Dublin, has 15 people currently pursuing basic literacy skills. Participants will be available for work placement from Easter and this placement may lead to permanent employment.

The organisers of the programme recently sent a questionnaire to all IHF Dublin branch members seeking feedback on what they would require from a work placement. Thanks are due to all respondents.

Bank of Ireland sponsors IHF Annual Report

Many thanks to Bank of Ireland, who is sponsoring the IHF's Annual Report for the second year in a row. This year's report includes interesting updated statistics on the industry.

Pictured at the announcement are Donal O'Meara, Secretary/Treasurer. IHF; John Power, Chief Executive, IHF and Peter Dunne, Marketing Manager, Business Banking, Retail, Sales & Marketing, Bank of Ireland.

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