Hotels sector to create 500 new jobs

The head of the Galway Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation has said the jobs are already ‘coming online’ in businesses such as bars, cafés, restaurants and hotels.

But, surprisingly, the IHF is finding it difficult to fill positions – at the moment around 50 jobs are being advertised in the city.

Paul Gill – who also owns the Claregalway Hotel – told the Galway City Tribune that city hotels have “moved beyond survival mode” and are enjoying occupancy rates in excess of 90% during peak times.

“The occupancy rates average out at around 63% – there are lows in the forties, but the highs are into the nineties.

“We’re seeing a ‘motorway’ like recovery – in the overtaking lane is Dublin, in the middle lane are the likes of Galway, Cork and Kilkenny cities and in the slow lane is the hinterland.

“Around 1,500 full- and part-time jobs will be created over the next three years in Galway, with more than 500 of those being in the city alone,” said Mr Gill.

He added that there has been a change in attitude from banks who have appointed receivers to hotels.

“Family-owned hotels would never have exploited the full potential of the Celtic Tiger [in terms of borrowing and expanding], and so they’re performing very well.

“There has been a change of philosophy from the banks; I believe they’re moving from maintaining the status quo to looking for a return on their investment. The days of cut-price deals from bank-controlled hotels are disappearing,” said Mr Gill.

An IHF survey conducted this month shows that three out of every four hotels and guesthouses are having trouble filling entry level positions within their business.

Mr Gill said the problem is getting progressively worse as the sector returns to growth and that a clear role exists for SOLAS and the local Education and Training Boards to help address this demand.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.