Limerick man appointed new president of the Irish Hotel Federation

LIMERICK man Michael Magner has been appointed president of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF).

The west Limerick man, a hotelier with extensive experience spanning 30 years, has been elected the 40th  president, succeeding Denyse Campbell.

A native of Killeedy, Mr Magner is owner of Cork’s Vienna Woods Hotel. He has studied Hotel Management and holds a master’s degree in Business in HRM from the University of Limerick. He began his career in hospitality aged 16 in Newcastle West, going on to work at the Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel in Adare.

Mr Magner has been an active member of the IHF since 2006 and has served as chair of the Cork branch, a two-year term as national vice president, and as a member of the National Council and Management Committee. He currently sits as chair of Cobh Heritage Trust and a director of the board of Visit Cork.

Commenting on his election, Mr Magner said that his focus would be on advocating for members at the highest levels of Government and with industry partners, to ensure the IHF continues to be a strong voice supporting the sector.

“Our industry has gone through remarkable changes in recent years, not least influenced by the impact of a global pandemic, soaring business costs, rapid consumer inflation, economic uncertainty, climate change and the impact of global geo-political crises. In the face of all of this, our members have displayed resilience and adaptability.

“However, some members are facing greater challenges, depending on their location and business mix. Quite simply, more needs to be done by Government to support these businesses, which are core to our tourism proposition, delivering exceptional Irish hospitality,” said Mr Magner.

“I am all too aware of the impact tourism has right across our country, supporting over a quarter of a million livelihoods. 65,000 people are employed directly in hotels and guesthouses – all making an enormous contribution to villages, towns and cities the length and breadth of the country.  It’s vitally important that we have the right conditions in place to live up to our full potential as Ireland’s leading indigenous industry.

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“During my term as president, I intend to place a strong emphasis on exploring sustainable practices throughout our sector. Climate change is now one of the challenges of our time. There is a wonderful opportunity for us to be a leader in this space and to ensure sustainability is infused throughout our sector, adopting the latest technological and environmental initiatives to shape a best-in-class approach.”

He added: “The quality and calibre of people within this industry remain key to our success.  From personal experience, it's an industry with an energy and dynamism like no other, and one with so many opportunities. I want to ensure that we continue to nurture an environment that attracts and retains talent and where people are supported to thrive and flourish.”

The IHF is the national organisation of the hotel and guesthouse sector in Ireland, representing over 900 hotels and guesthouses nationwide, employing over 65,000 people across the sector.