A new training facility, recently announced for CERT Limerick will be operational early next year. Almost twice the size of its existing premises at Raheen, it is being located at the former Krups facility in Limerick City. It is estimated that this new training facility will provide for an increased 40 - 50% of new trainees. The new facility will concentrate on training unemployed people in the region wishing to re-enter the workforce and take advantage of career opportunities in the hospitality sector.

“Moving to these new premises in the centre of the city is ideal for

providing opportunities for more people to enter the hospitality industry. It takes us from the outskirts of Limerick right into the centre of the city, where there is excellent bus routes and good access. It is situated in an area of high unemployment, where we hope to focus our recruitment energies. It will provide a means to satisfy the increased staff needs in the mid west area, which we estimate will increase by 50% over the next 5 years,” says Shaun Quinn, Chief Executive, CERT.

“CERT have been providing a wide range of training courses from

the Raheen centre for the past 10 years and this announcement reflects CERT’s confidence in the region as having significant growth potential for careers in the sector”, continues Mr. Quinn.

Plans include the provision of a state of the art facility with exceptional bar and kitchen facilities being constructed in the new centre. The full range of CERT courses will be available full time and day release, offering a variety of skills from chef, bar, restaurant and reception, to tourism and hospitality studies.

Mr Bill Power, President of the Irish Hotels Federation, welcomed the announcement by CERT saying these expanded facilities would also further facilitate increased female participation in the workforce, and was in line with the IHF’s desire to see a greater female involvement in the workforce.

These initiatives are part of CERT’s strategy over the next few years to concentrate on a focused approach to training, recruitment and job placement. Currently 90% of CERT graduates secure employment. CERT has also recently opened new training centres in Ballymun and Clondalkin, Dublin.

Since 15 September the new Retail Price (Beverages in Licensed Premises) Display Order 1999 obliges licensed premises including hotels and guesthouses, to display price lists for customers. For hotels and guesthouses, this means the price list should be displayed either directly inside or outside each entrance to the part of the premises that serves alcohol. If you have more than one bar area you need to ensure that all conform.

The initiative brought in by Tom Kitt T.D., Minister for Consumer Affairs, aims to inform consumers about prices being charged before they enter a premises. Inspections to ensure that the licensees are displaying these lists will be carried out shortly. The Order lays down that the prices of 16 items are to be displayed on the price list. They are:

• Stout - Draught & bottle
• Ale - Draught & bottle
• Lager - Draught & bottle
• Cider - Draught & bottle
• Whiskey
• Vodka

• Gin
• Carbonated beverage
• Carbonated beverage with a cola base
• Mixer
• Bottled water
• Wine

GET A LIFE ....

The IHF, CERT and RAI are again calling on young people throughout the country to get a life in the Irish tourism sector. The second edition of the Get a Life…. In Tourism Magazine is hot off the presses and is currently being circulated to all IHF members. It is an important tool in the Irish Hotels Federation’s objective to encourage more young people to think about the positive aspects of a career in the hotel and guesthouse industry. IHF members can get additional copies of the magazine by contacting Nuala at the IHF head office.

Congratulations to the following properties who have successfully completed assessment and have been awarded Quality Employer status:

• Camden Court Hotel, Dublin
• Charleville Hotel, Dublin
• Glena Guesthouse, Kerry
• Grafton Guesthouse, Dublin
• Grand Hotel, Wicklow
• Harvey’s Point Hotel, Donegal
• Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork
• Kelly’s Hotel, Dublin
• Lake Hotel, Kerry
• Lansdowne Hotel, Dublin
• Longfields Hotel, Dublin
• Longueville House, Cork
• Maryborough House Hotel, Cork
• Mount Herbert Hotel, Dublin
• Radisson SAS St. Helens Hotel, Dublin
• Randles Court Hotel, Kerry
• Rathkeale House Hotel, Limerick
• Royal Hotel, Carlow
• Royal George Hotel, Limerick
• Shanon Oaks Hotel, Galway
• Stakis Dublin Hotel, Dublin
• Woodfield House Hotel, Limerick

Following the success of the Swedish recruitment drive held in March, the IHF intends to repeat the exercise and is visiting four Swedish cities from 4th October. In each city, potential new staff for the bar, restaurant, reception, chef and accommodation areas will be interviewed.

In addition, the IHF will visit ten catering colleges, making presentation to students in each one. This offers the opportunity to directly communicate with students that they have the option to complete placement modules here, or indeed consider Ireland for careers after their studies have finished.

QEP accredited properties can put forward vacancies they have by contacting Anne O’Carroll at IHF head office.

The 1st National Tourism Careers Roadshow last year was judged a resounding success. An IHF, CERT and RAI initiative, plans are underway for the 1999 event starting on the 8th of November.

Last year’s roadshow combined with participation at other career seminars and events, resulted in a 50% increase in CERT applications. This is the first upward trend in applications in the last few years, and gives great confidence for the success of this year’s event.

Last year’s success was largely due to the tremendous support given by hotels and guesthouses in regions the roadshow visited. The IHF is calling again for this support and is inviting hotels and guesthouses with young enthusiastic employees to make them available when the roadshow visits their locality. These staff representatives would be required to give short talks on their job, experience and training to-date. Hotels and guesthouses who have staff available should contact Anne O’Carroll at the Irish Hotels Federation. In support, CERT is providing a one-day communications skills course in October for all staff participating in the event. The overall success of the roadshow depends greatly on the staff available so students can hear first hand the many opportunities for career advancement in the sector. All QEP properties are being urged by the IHF to put forward suitable staff for the event.

The Higher Options Conference took place in Dublin’s RDS from 22nd-24th September last. Open to colleges and industry to exhibit and highlight what they have to offer young people in relation to a career, it is one of the largest student career events in the country. The Irish Hotels Federation, together with CERT and the RAI had a large exhibition stand at the event. The fair allows the hospitality sector to meet both students and career guidance teachers, and is an ideal channel to discuss recent positive initiatives in the industry including the QEP, Code of Practice for Summer Work and the Careers Roadshow. Thanks are due to all the hotels and guesthouses who released staff to man the stand during the event.

Over 60,000 2nd level students visited the fair last year. Pictured explaining to Jane Matthews, Mark Deacon and Colin Graham from Kilkenny College, the vast array of careers available is Liz Carter, Great Southern Hotels.

ITIC CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO TOURISM

The Irish Hotels Federation strongly supports recent calls by ITIC to seek a clear government commitment to devising a coherent strategy and investment programme for tourism in the National Development Plan for the period 2000-2006. Commitments ITIC is calling for include; commitment to the need for a sustained marketing fund over the six year period, favourable tax breaks for tourism and a focus on training and employment.

It is judged a IR£1 billion investment programme is needed to position and grow our tourism product to its fullest identified potential. The ITIC strategic study published last year, clearly identifies this potential and pinpoints priorities that need to be addressed to deliver growth forecasts. Of the IR£1bn needed, 21% is being sought from the EU structural funds and nearly 66% will come from the tourism industry itself. ITIC is calling for the government to commit to the outstanding balance needed.

Tourism is now one of the largest employers in the country, it has exceeded revenue earnings under the current operational programme a year early. The IHF acknowledges the challenges ahead to ensure this success continues over the next six years. Government needs to pledge its support and commitment to the sector with a comprehensive operational programme for tourism and become a strategic partner developing the Irish tourism industry with all parties.

The Regional Tourism Marketing Initiative (RTMI) Autumn advertising campaign is currently underway. Hotels and guesthouses that may not have participated but would like to do so, still have an opportunity to join in, with space available between now and the end of November in some of the national newspapers. The main purpose of the classified campaign is to co-ordinate industry advertising under the theme: – Ireland - Wherever it takes you. Participating hotels and guesthouses will benefit from considerable reductions in national press advertising.

Those wishing to advertise under the campaign umbrella, should contact the newspapers directly at the numbers below and ask to advertise on the reserved Regional Tourist Marketing Initiative classified page. The classified newspaper campaign is supported by a radio advertising campaign on RTE Radio One, 2FM, 98FM, Cork 96FM, and in Northern Ireland on Downtown/Cool FM.

Born in London, Mailo Power, Chairperson of the South East Branch of the IHF, has always considered Waterford her home, because it is where her parents were from. Proprietor of the Three Rivers Guesthouse in Waterford since 1994, Mailo has been involved with the IHF for over 11 years. During this time, she held many positions including Chairperson of the IHF Marketing Committee, hotel/guesthouse representative on the Waterford County Tourism Committee and Board Member of the Regional Board South East Tourism.

Married to Stan Power, who was General Manager of Mount Juliet when they won the AA Hotel of the Year 1998, Mailo’s interests include interior design, and she has her own interior design company specialising in hotel interiors. Being a keen golfer, Mailo is a member of Faithlegg Golf Club where, in 1997, she was Lady Captain and earlier this year she achieved a hole-in-one on the course – the first lady ever to do so!