Brian Lawlor, Group General Manager of the O’Donoghue Ring Collection, has been elected Chair of the Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), which represents hotels and guesthouses across the county.
Originally from Wexford, Mr Lawlor has a hospitality career spanning over two decades, having previously held the positions of General Manager of the Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa and Killarney Towers Hotel & Leisure Centre and, prior to that, General Manager of the Carriage House at Adare Manor.
Mr Lawlor said: “It is a great honour to have been elected Chair of the Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation. Hotels and guesthouses throughout Kerry make such a vital contribution to local and regional tourism, which supports over 16,000 livelihoods throughout the county. I look forward to representing them and working closely with my IHF colleagues to engage with Government and industry partners to address the challenges we face head on, including the very high costs of doing business within our industry. This is an increasing concern and requires swift action from the Government.”
“On behalf of my colleagues and fellow hoteliers in Kerry, I wish to acknowledge and thank Bernadette Randles for her leadership and the immense commitment she has demonstrated throughout her tenure as Branch Chair. During this time, she has provided a strong voice for local hotels, advocating on behalf of our sector and wider tourism industry here in Kerry.”
IHF President Michael Magner said: “I want to congratulate Brian on his election. His commitment to our sector and extensive experience are a tremendous asset to the IHF as we continue to advocate for members at the highest levels of Government. The tourism and hospitality sector is Ireland’s largest indigenous employer, supporting over 270,000 livelihoods. It is therefore critical that the right conditions are in place to deliver a sustained recovery for our sector so that the wider tourism industry lives up to its full potential. I look forward to working with Brian during his term to deliver our key priorities in relation to economic growth, leadership in sustainability and supporting people development within our sector.”
