President to address embattled hospitality industry

Tourism futurist Valentina Doorly, travel writer Pól O’Conghaile and Ireland’s key industry experts will also speak at the upcoming Hospitality and Tourism Professionals Day, organised by the Irish Hospitality Institute.

President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins has confirmed he will address the hospitality and tourism industry at the upcoming IHI Hospitality and Tourism Day, which takes place virtually on November 26.

The event will provide an opportunity for owners and managers in hotels, restaurants, attractions, tourism, travel and tourism/ hospitality education to discuss the critical issues facing the industry – such as how to rebuild business, the new megatrends defining the sector, and the retention of talent in the sector.

Tourism futurist Valentina Doorly, travel writer Pól O’Conghaile and Ireland’s key industry experts will also speak at the upcoming Hospitality and Tourism Professionals Day, organised by the Irish Hospitality Institute.

The event will provide a platform for owners and managers to further discuss critical issues such as the retention of talent and rebuilding business, and it will focus too on the international megatrends that will define the sector in the future.

The aim of the event is to provide support and solidarity at a critical time for the hospitality and tourism industry.

Decision makers from hotels, restaurants, attractions, tourism, travel and education, are invited to attend for free.

Other key industry professionals will discuss topics that include, ‘Leadership through an Unstable Landscape’ and ‘What Next for Tourism & Hospitality Professionals- The Rebuild’.

The sessions will address what 2021 will look like from a travel perspective and what it will mean for the industry; What makes for a good staycation experience in a Covid world; Lessons learned from the last recession that are applicable now; and Sustainability in the tourism industry.

Commenting on the event, President of the IHI and MD of The Innovate Room Oonagh Cremins FIHI, said “We are honoured to announce that President Michael D. Higgins will give a keynote address at our upcoming IHI Hospitality and Tourism Professionals Day. The event will recognise and celebrate the commitment and passion of our hospitality professionals and educators, many of which are going through their most challenging year.

“The online webinar is a must for anyone in the industry looking for strategic direction, advice and support. The key message on the day will be that we are all a community experiencing the same difficulties, but we need to focus on the future and rebuild from here. Retention of talent is now also at a critical stage, with many of our colleagues changing careers because of a fear of the unknown, so we will address that in detail as retention will be key to the future recovery of our sector.”