Cork hotelier says it is vital that 'right conditions' are in place for industry

WELL-KNOWN Cork hotelier Michael Magner has been elected as the president of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF).

Mr Magner, whose experience as a hotelier spans 30 years, was recently elected as the 40th president, succeeding Denyse Campbell.

The IHF is the Irish national organisation of the hotel and guesthouse sector representing over 900 hotels and guesthouses and employing more than 65,000 people across the sector.

Mr Magner is the owner of Cork’s historic Vienna Woods Hotel and has been an active member of the IHF since 2006. He has served as chairman of the Cork branch, as national vice president, and as a member of the national council and management committee and currently sits as chairman of Cobh Heritage Trust and a director of the board of Visit Cork.

Mr Magner said he would focus on advocating for IHF members at the highest levels of Government and with industry partners, to ensure a strong voice in supporting the sector.

“Our industry has gone through remarkable changes in recent years, not least ... a global pandemic, soaring business costs, rapid consumer inflation, economic uncertainty, climate change and ... global geo-political crises,” he said. “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.

“As a Cork hotelier, 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.”