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The Irish Hotels Federation has elected Matt O’Connor as its 41st president to lead the organisation representing more than 900 hotels and guesthouses.
O’Connor, who is the managing director of Mullingar Park Hotel and has been an active member of the federation since 2008, succeeds Michael Magner.
A native of County Wexford, O’Connor previously served as chair of the midlands branch and national vice president. He has worked at his current hotel for 23 years.
The federation represents a sector that directly employs 69,000 people. Total tourism and hospitality employment in Ireland supports more than 270,000 livelihoods across the country.
The industry generates €10bn (£8.6bn) in annual revenue for the economy, according to the trade body. Approximately 70% of tourism and hospitality jobs are located outside of Dublin.
The sector is currently preparing for the restoration of the 9% VAT rate on food services this July. This follows the introduction of the National Tourism Policy.
O’Connor said: “It is an immense honour to lead the IHF as we work to ensure the right conditions are in place for the long-term development of our tourism industry. Our hotels and guesthouses are the heartbeat of Irish tourism and a primary driver of regional growth. This success is the result of thousands of talented, hard-working people who provide a world-class welcome every day.
“We must be proactive as an industry. My presidency will be defined by four core pillars: ensuring strong representation for every member from rural guesthouses to large hotels, advocating for effective policy that maintains our global competitiveness, accelerating our sustainability transition and nurturing the talent that is the very foundation of our success.”
