Hotplate - Dec 2023 by Northern Ireland Hotels Federation

December 2023

HOUSEKEEPING AWARDS ENTER NOW FOR ASSESSMENT DAY IN JANUARY 2024 PLUS HOSPITALITY EXCHANGE PHOTOS HOUSEKEEPING AND RECEPTION TRAINING COURSES AND RISING STAR PHOTOS MEMBER NEWS ECONOMICS MINIMUM WAGE

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INSIDE HOTPLATE

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HOUSEKEEPING AWARDS

HOSPITALITY EXCHANGE

OUR HOUSEKEEPING AWARDS ARE BACK FOR 2024. FIND OUT MORE AND ENTER NOW.

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SOME PHOTOS FROM OCTOBER’S EVENT

MEMBER NEWS Celebrations and refurbishments from members across the country.

P. 6 & 9 TOURISM NEWS New Minimum Wage rates for 2024 and Tourism Strategy Consultation open.

P. 13 RISING STARS Photos of the ten Rising Stars for 2023, awarded at Hospitality Exchange. This issue of Hotplate has been kindly sponsored by Bath Fitter. Please see their article on Page 7.

P. 10-11 HOUSEKEEPING TRAINING New courses from Mary Hall this January.

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HOTPLATE Northern Ireland Hotels Federation The McCune Building, 1 Shore Road Belfast BT15 3PG Tel: 028 9077 6635 Web: nihf.co.uk Email: office@nihf.co.uk

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

hristmas is almost here and I’m sure like many of you, I don’t know where the year has gone. The Federation has completed a very busy calendar of events culminating in Hospitality Exchange. I would like to say a personal thanks to all those who came along and supported us in 2023. We were delighted to welcome more than 500 delegates over the course of the two days. There was very positive feedback on this year’s program which looked at hot topics including: coping with a crazy busy workload, industry performance, the true value of tourism and how to attract young people into the industry. The event is a very collaborative one and without suppliers, speakers, and industry partners, it would be impossible to stage. I was also delighted that we were able to give a sizeable donation to Macmillan from the proceeds of our charity ballot and our feedback form. 2023 has seen hotels and the wider sector return to more normal

times. Trading has in the main been good but staffing and costs are continuing to affect the sectors performance. The industry has grown and has potential to expand further but people seem to be our biggest constraint. In the coming year, we will continue to address this issue working on bespoke training solutions for hotels at an affordable level, highlighting and rewarding excellence of employees in housekeeping and reception roles. The NIHF continues to lobby for a better understanding of the sectors needs and works closely with NITA and HATS to highlight these locally and in Westminster. We are always keen to hear from you and if there is a matter you wish us to raise, please contact any of the board members or the office with your thoughts. The Federation is twenty-five years old next year and we will be celebrating our silver anniversary throughout the year with a focus on the progress the sector has

EDDIE MCKEEVER President made, the contribution we make and the great people we employ. I hope to see you at an event during the year and thank you for a quarter of a century of support. I know that we all have a very busy time ahead and I’d like to wish all of you a very Happy Christmas and all the very best for 2024.

NIHF DIARY DATES 2024 Tues 9th or Wed 10th January Housekeeping Training Maldron Hotel Belfast Wednesday 24th January Housekeeping Assessment Room2 Hometel Wednesday 31st January Member Networking Lunch Dunadry Hotel and Gardens Wednesday 28th February Housekeeping Awards La Mon Hotel & Country Club

Wednesday 6th & 13th March Receptionist Training Ten Sq Hotel Belfast & TBC Derry-Londonderry Wednesday 20th March Business Outlook Seminar Clandeboye Lodge Hotel Tuesday 16th April Receptionist Assessment Clayton Hotel Belfast Tuesday 23rd April Receptionist Interviews Clayton Hotel Belfast

Thursday 25th April Hotel Heroes Grand Central Hotel Tuesday 14th May Golf Day Hilton Templepatrick Wednesday 22nd May Receptionist Awards Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel Tues 15th & Wed 16th October Hospitality Exchange is 25 Crowne Plaza Belfast

EDITORIAL

HOTEL PIPELINE PERKS UP NEW HOTELS ON THE WAY AFTER PAUSE IN DEVELOPMENT After a period of stagnation, the construction pipeline for hotels has been reinvigorated. There has been limited organic growth since 2021 and as of December 2023, there are 143 hotels in Northern Ireland comprising 9,646 bedrooms. Two new openings in 2023: The Ebrington Hotel, Derry-Londonderry and Room2 in Belfast added 276 rooms to the local hotel bed stock. Overall trading in 2023 has been strong with a year-todate occupancy figure of 76% supported by an increased room rate and robust RevPAR figure. This performance, coupled with an impressive post COVID recovery, has re-ignited interest in building, acquiring, and expanding hotel stock. Forecasts for 2024 predict the occupancy level holding up well with room rates remaining on par with 2023. The grounds for this being that current levels of demand will continue as the legacy of the pandemic fades giving rise to an increased international travel and some restoration of corporate travel. Perhaps for those in the industry the overriding factor is recognition that there will be limited new hotel supply coming to market 2024. Market intelligence indicators show that hotel rooms should increase by about 150 rooms in 2024. Not a lot in the overall scheme of things with the majority coming from expansion

of existing properties. Moving into 2025, we see a very different picture with the possibility of up to ten hotels opening over the course of the year. Unusually, the Northern Ireland hotel pipeline is not a steady flow but rather more like a tap with a distinct on and off switch. When it comes to expansion, there are two notable hotspots: Belfast and the North Coast which are likely to see most significant arrivals of new product with projects that have been greenlit for planning and have either begun or are about to start construction. Most importantly they have finance in place to commence and complete which may stall others in the medium term. The North Coast is an area of frenetic activity and one that is currently undergoing a post pandemic renaissance driven by the outdoor appeal of the region with its stunning scenery, added to by the opportunities the 2025 Open presents. The region is experiencing considerable investment by way of acquisition, expansion and refurbishment. There have been several notable sales: the Bushmills Inn, the Adelphi, the Premier Inn (Coleraine) now the Riverside Hotel, the Magherabuoy, and the Atlantic with a couple of others still on the market. Other hotels in the area have either invested heavily over the last two years or are

JANICE GAULT Chief Executive

entering into a period of expansion or refurbishment. New rooms in Ballycastle at the Marine Hotel and the Salt House, along with new dining establishments at both has seen a revival in the town’s tourism fortunes. The Lodge in Coleraine undertook a major upgrade of its public areas, and the Roe Park Resort is investing in sustainability. The Elephant Rock has opened with eighteen rooms in 2022. Another two projects are now through planning and underway: the Dunluce Lodge operated by Valor Hospitality (planning to open in summer 2024) and the Marcus (trading under the Hilton Tapestry brand) developed by Andras House due to open in early 2025. The Merrow is back in the planning process and hopes to proceed once approval has been granted. Belfast will see an extension at the Flint and a new 20 room boutique room in the Cathedral Quarter coming to market in 2024. Five hotels have recently been approved for planning and the likelihood is that around 500 rooms will come on stream in the city over the course of 2025. Beyond these hot spots, there are new projects under consideration in Fermanagh and Derry-Londonderry with interest also in developing hotels in Newry, Lisburn, and Antrim.

STAFFING CHALLENGES

MAJOR CHANGES TO IMMIGRATION FROM SPRING 2024 IT WILL BE HARDER TO BRING IN WORKERS There are more than fifty projects in the public domain: everything from large retail and hospitality schemes to speculative concepts with over 4,500 putative bedrooms in total. However, it is important to note that not all of these will proceed; as a rule of thumb about 20% normally come to market. In terms of investment between 2023-25, based on the predicted openings, hotels that have opened in 2023, current expansions and refurbishments, the sector will at a conservative estimate spend in the region of £300m adding an additional five hundred jobs to its workforce. As we go to press the excitement of expansion has been tempered by the Government’s announcement on the new proposals for immigration. Due to ongoing staffing issues and the lack of skilled personnel, the hotel sector has turned to overseas staffing solutions to ensure they can operate at optimum level. Tourism supports economic growth and social transformation making significant contribution, there are growing concerns that a lack of staff will constraint expansion and make it more difficult to reach our full potential.

The Government has announced major changes to immigration policy with the emphasis on “slashing” net migration. The headline that has grabbed most media attention is the proposal to increase the entry level salary threshold to £38,700. This is an increase of 48% from the current level of £26,200. Currently the £26,200 level can be discounted by 20% for shortage occupations but there are currently no tourism specific roles on this list. However, the understanding is that the list will be reviewed by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) in line with new salary thresholds and possibly a change of occupations that are covered by the list. The understanding is that healthcare works will be exempt from these increases. In addition to measures to reduce migration, the Government will make sure that migrants coming to the UK make a fair financial contribution so that public services, including the NHS, are not taken advantage of by increasing the annual Immigration Health Surcharge from £624 to £1,035. The plan also increases the Minimum Income Requirement to allow family members who

come to the UK to live with British citizens or settled people sponsoring family members to £38,700 in line with the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route. This may affect staff or those already settled who are planning to bring family in the future. These policy changes present a real challenge for the hotel and wider hospitality industry in Northern Ireland that has been using overseas workers to fill roles, particularly chefs, kitchen roles and housekeeping. The belief that there is a ready and willing local workforce is clearly not true. The Government’s view is that immigration is a negative thing and regrettably there is little to no understanding of the current needs of or the growth potential of the tourism sector. NIHF will be communicating these concerns with MP’s, the Home Office and local politicians and if you have any concerns, please contact the office directly with your thoughts and we will try to address them.

MEMBER NEWS

MERCHANT HOTEL »The Merchant Hotel has unveilled its newly refurbished Meetings and Events floor with seven bespoke chandeliers designed locally and made in Italy and all refreshed with locally woven and designed carpet.

NIHF MEMBER NEWS

ANDRAS HOUSE

BELMORE COURT & MOTEL

CLANDEBOYE LODGE HOTEL

Andras Hotels, is delighted to announce that five of its hotels have attained silver accreditation through the Green Tourism programme. Green Tourism promotes greener ways for businesses and organisations to operate.

The Belmore Court has proudly announced its recent attainment of the prestigious Investors in People (IIP) Standard for the 6th time. The property embarked on its journey towards IIP accreditation in September 2000 and has recently achieved its sixth IIP Review.

Clandeboye Lodge is delighted to have been awarded ‘4-Star Hotel of the Year 2023’ at the Georgina Campbell Irish Food and Hospitality Awards.

Vicky Green, Associate Director of Andras House said: “Sustainability is at the forefront of our daily conversations with our team, our guests and stakeholders. It has been fantastic to watch the enthusiasm of the team grow. Holiday Inn guests now enjoy fresh vegetables and herbs from their garden whilst Hampton by Hilton are creating an outdoor staff wellness area”.

They have also been ranked as the Friendliest Hotel in the UK and tenth in the world. This prestigious ranking was awarded following an extensive analysis by HawaiianIslands.com, which reviewed millions of publicly available Tripadvisor reviews. In this study, Belmore Court & Motel stood out significantly, with 50.5% of its reviews mentioning “friendly”.

Celebrating 25 years, the awards this year focused particularly on “genuine hospitality, consistency, innovation, and good value”. Described by Georgina Campbell as a “comfortable, privately owned, contemporary, four-star hotel near Bangor, the Clandeboye Lodge’s exceptionally warm and helpful reception team, welcoming fire, plentiful seating areas and stylish foyer, creates a good impression that carries throughout the hotel”.

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MEMBER NEWS

MORE MEMBER NEWS

MCKEEVER HOTEL GROUP

GALGORM

MANOR HOUSE COUNTRY HOTEL

McKeever Group has reorganised its Board structure and announced a change in its leadership team.

Galgorm has been recognised with an impressive six awards at 2023 World Luxury Awards, including Global Award Winner for Best Luxury Spa Resort and named Best Destination Spa 2024 in the recent Conde Nast Johansens Awards.

The Manor House Country Hotel took home a grand total of five awards at the Irish Hotel Awards, hosted this year at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sligo. These included Una Monaghan as Wedding Manager of the Year, Jolanta Zostautiene as Housekeeping Manager of the Year (Ulster) and Frances Cathcart with the title of Breakfast Manager of the Year (All Ireland).

Eugene McKeever, who established the business in 1993 when he bought Corr’s Corner in Newtownabbey, will move from Managing Director to Chair of the Group. Eugene’s son Eddie, who was formerly Operations Director, has been appointed Group Managing Director, while his sister Bridgene Keeley becomes Company Secretary and Director of Governance. Eugene’s wife Catherine McKeever, with whom he co-founded McKeever Hotels, remains a Director and has also been appointed Chair of ESG. Victoria Walton joins the Board as Director of Finance while Martin Toner, who has over 30 years of experience as General Manager across the McKeever portfolio, is the new Director of People. The group’s strategic three-year plan, which coincides with the Group’s 30th anniversary, aims to increase turnover to £60million though the next three years, with further acquisitions and hotel management contracts included in the growth plan.

MAHON’S HOTEL

GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL Jake McHugh has been appointed as the new General Manager of the Grand Central Hotel. He joins Hastings Hotels with 27 years’ experience in the global tourism and hospitality industry having worked extensively in the Far East, most recently with Hyatt International as well as luxurious hotels located in Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan and Korea.

Mahon’s Hotel celebrated 140 years in business at a special event last month. Directors Aisling Sloan (nee Mahon), Paul Mahon and Joe Mahon have followed in their father’s and grandfather’s footsteps to uphold the Mahon name in the heart of Irvinestown and the surrounding areas. To celebrate the hotel’s 140th year in business along with Joe Mahon’s recent lifetime achievement award, the family invited customers and the community to join them for a celebration at the end of November.

HOTEL AWARDS

RISING STARS AWARDED FEDERATION AWARDS TO RECOGNISE TALENT WITHIN INDUSTRY The Rising Star Awards for 2023 were made at a special lunch at Hospitality Exchange in October. The initiative, a partnership between Ulster Bank and NIHF, aims to recognise and celebrate emerging talent making significant contributions to the hotel and hospitality industry.

Winners were nominated by hotels and accommodation providers who recognise the individuals’ career progression, their contribution to the business, and future career trajectory. Entries were then assessed by a panel of independent judges.

The Rising Stars in alphabetical company order: 1.

Charlie Douglas, Assistant Bar & Restaurant Manager, AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast

6. James Kenny, Trainee Manager, Killeavy Castle Estate, Newry 7.

James Rocks, Reception Supervisor, Leonardo Hotel Belfast

2. Matthew McCabe, General Manager, Firehouse Bar & Grill, Cassidy Hospitality Group, Enniskillen

8. Angela Baker, Duty Manager, The Harrison, Belfast

3. Gavin Magee, Trainee Duty Manager, Corr’s Corner Hotel, Antrim

9. Emily Doherty, Supervisor at the Cocktail Bar, The Merchant Hotel, Belfast

4. Edibela Prazeres, Deputy Head Housekeeper, Hilton Belfast

10. Andrea Lamont, Spa Operations Manager, The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, Antrim

5. Chloe O’Toole, Front Office Manager, Holiday Inn Belfast City Centre

TOURISM NEWS

TOURISM STRATEGY CONSULTATION

NEW TOURISM STRATEGY LAUNCHED The Department for Economy has launched a public consultation on its draft Tourism Strategy for Northern Ireland: 10 year plan. The Tourism Strategy will be a key enabler of the Departments 10X Economic Vision for a decade of innovation, to support development of a more competitive, sustainable, and inclusive economy. The draft strategy sets out their vision and mission for the growth of the tourism sector in Northern Ireland over the next decade.

Responding to the consultation is an opportunity to help shape the final strategy and next steps to ensure that the importance of the sector is recognised in the future of Northern Ireland. The Federation will be making a submission, and we urge members to respond individually highlighting their thoughts and concerns. The consultation ends on 12th January 2024.

MINIMUM WAGE RISING BY 9.8% NEW TOP RATE OF £11.44 WILL COME INTO FORCE ON 1ST APRIL 2024. The National Minimum wage for those aged between 18-20 is increasing from £7.49 to £8.60. The minimum wage for those aged between 16-17 will increase from £5.28 to £6.40. The minimum wage for an apprentice is currently £5.28, but this will also increase to £6.40. The National Minimum Wage for those aged between 21-22 (currently £10.18) is being removed and

anyone is this age group will now be entitled to the higher National Living Wage which will also increase from £10.42 to £11.44. These increases will apply from 1st April 2024.

NMW RATES 2024 April 2023

Inc (£)

Inc (%)

National Living Wage

£11.44

1.02

9.8

21-22 Year old rate*

£11.44

1.26

12.4

18-20 year old rate

£8.60

1.11

14.8

16-17 year old rate

£6.40

1.12

21.2

apprentice rate

£6.40

1.12

21.2

accommodation offset

£9.99

0.89

9.8

* This rate has been removed

COCA-COLA » For the 15th year in a row, Coca-Cola HBC’s Designated Driver campaign is back. With a 36% increase in deaths on our roads so far this year, planning your route home and potentially being the Designated Driver has never been more important. To reward those unsung heroes of Christmas who gift their friends a lift, the Coca-Cola Designated Driver is back in over 78 participating venues across Northern Ireland. Drivers can grab two soft drinks from the Coca-Cola range for free, by simply make themselves known to bar staff!

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TOURISM NEWS

CHARITY CHEQUE DONATION OF £3,445 GIVEN TO MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT The Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF) Fundraiser, which was held at the Hospitality Exchange Gala Ball, has raised £3,445 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

including information and support, benefits advice, and physical activity programmes. I know what a difference their services can make.”

Discussing the donation NIHF President Eddie McKeever says: “We’re thrilled that our members gave so generously to support Macmillan Cancer Support. Cancer can affect people’s lives in many ways, including their physical health, mental wellbeing, relationships, work and money. Macmillan is doing whatever it takes to support people in Northern Ireland from the moment they are diagnosed. The charity provides services all over NI

2024 PLANS TOURISM IRELAND TO OUTLINE 2024 MARKETING PLANS

Thanking the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation, Senior Fundraising Manager for MacMillan Cancer Support, Joanne Young, adds: “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone at Northern Ireland Hotels Federation for their incredible support. Macmillan relies almost entirely on public donations, and the money raised by NIHF members will help us to continue providing the local services that people living with cancer desperately need.”

Tourism Ireland will launch its 2024 Marketing Plans in Dublin on 9th January and Belfast on 11th January. A plenary session will be followed by a number of breakout sessions with Tourism Ireland market teams and Overseas Business Exchange (a workshop of one-to-one, prescheduled appointments with Tourism Ireland teams).

NIHF President Eddie McKeever is pictured with Senior Fundraising Manager for MacMillan Cancer Support, Joanne Young.

The Belfast event will be held in the ICC at 10.00am on 11th January. Please contact Tourism Ireland to register.

NIHF/IHF JOINT MEETING BOARDS FROM NORTH AND SOUTH MET TO DISCUSS COMMON AREAS OF INTEREST The Board of the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation recently met with the Council of the Irish Hotels Federation in the Ballymascanlon Hotel, Dundalk, to discuss areas of common interest. These included the new ETA, promotion of Ireland overseas, Euro 2028, VAT and more.

The two bodies are in regular communication, formally and informally, as many issues are relevant to hoteliers north and south.

HOSPITALITY EXCHANGE

Crowne Plaza Belfast and The merchant hotel Organised by NIHF, Hospitality Exchange 2023 took place over two days in October at the Crowne Plaza Belfast. As the conference entered its 24th year, Hospitality Exchange has consistently proven to be an invaluable platform for industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts. Four pivotal themes defined this year’s event: People, Teams & Building Success, The Green Dream, The Global Marketplace and The True Value of Tourism. The “People Power” session, hosted by Tim Browne, featured insights from notable speakers, including Adrian Ellis from the Lowry Hotel and Tom Booton, Executive Chef at The Grill by Tom Booton at The Dorchester in London. There was also an opportunity to experience Tom’s innovative cooking at a gourmet dinner on the eve of this year’s Hospitality Exchange in The Merchant Hotel. The menu included classic dishes with a twist incorporating local Northern Ireland ingredients.

Monday night dinner with Tom Booton

A ‘Gen Z Speaks’ session oulined what attracts young people to the industry, with Zena Everett, author of ‘The Crazy Busy Cure’, drawing the session to a close with a masterclass on managing time, talent and energy.

of what lies ahead. Economist Andrew Webb discussed the economic might of tourism, paving the way for a thought-provoking industry discussion on the sector’s resilience, diversification, and global opportunities.

In the afternoon, Pamela Ballantine hosted ‘Rising Stars’, an initiative supported by Ulster Bank to celebrate industry talent and reward stellar performance.

Yannick Cabrol from EY then presented a vision for tourism: a sustainable future. Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland offered invaluable insights into the exciting prospects for the coming year”.

Tuesday began on a vibrant note with the Business Breakfast event, guided by the seasoned journalist, Mark Simpson. Sarah Duignan from STR illuminated the performance and future outlook of the hotel sector, ensuring that figures took centre stage. The Sales and Valuations session, led by Tom Barrett, Head of Hotels and Leisure at Savills Ireland, delved into the nitty-gritty of industry statistics, while Adrian Patton from ASM Chartered Accountants concluded the breakfast event with a comprehensive look at the evolving landscape of bedroom costs over the past decade. The ‘Talking Tourism’ session was a forward-looking exploration

Talking Tourism with Mark Simpson

The Speaker Lunch saw Stuart Godwin from the Lamington Group share his experience of sailing, sustainability and creating the room2 hometel brand. The grand finale for Hospitality Exchange 2023 was of course, the Gala Ball. Hospitality Exchange attracted over 600 delegates over the course of two days with business leaders from the hotel, accommodation, and hospitality sectors along with those from allied tourism industries and government agencies. Thank you to all who took part.

HOSPITALITY EXCHANGE

Talking Tourism - John McGrillen (TNI), Yannick Cabrol (EY), Alice Mansergh (Tourism Ireland), Andrew Webb (Grant Thornton)

Carolyn Boyd (TNI), Tom Booton, Adrian Ellis, Eddie McKeever (NIHF President), Zara Everett & Tim Browne (compere)

Mark Simpson, Eddie McKeever (NIHF President), Stuart Godwin (Lamington Group) & Chris Ross (McKees)

Sarah Duigan (STR)

AC Hotel Belfast

Galgorm Collection

Linencare

Coca-Cola and Guests

Classic Drinks and Sysco

McKeever Hotel Group

Hastings Hotels

Bunzl McLaughlin

HOSPITALITY EXCHANGE

Thanks The companies below have kindly provided sponsorship and support to Hospitality Exchange.

HOUSEKEEPING AWARDS

AWARDS NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES THE FEDERATION’S ANNUAL SEARCH FOR THE BEST HOUSEKEEPING TEAMS IS UNDERWAY. ENTER NOW ON OUR WEBSITE AND GET READY FOR THE ASSESSMENT DAY IN JANUARY Now in its 13th year, the Housekeeping Awards are about recognising and rewarding your team; giving them the thanks they deserve! It is an exciting, fun competition with interactive tasks and some great team building. This year’s assessment day will take place in the new Room2 Hometel in the centre of Belfast on Wednesday 24th January and the competition will culminate in the Awards Dinner on 28th February in the La Mon Hotel. The assessment day will be run in two equal-sized groups and following that, a shortlist of the top teams will be drawn up and announced on our website. Each finalist hotel will then receive a visit from a professional housekeeping inspector. This inspector will score

the cleanliness of bedrooms and public areas. This score, combined with the team scores, will be used to determine the winners. Teams interested in taking part should complete the short online form available at nihf.co.uk by Friday 12th January. The Housekeeping Awards are supported by Tourism Northern Ireland, Bath Fitter, Bunzl Rafferty Guest Amenities, King Koil and Linencare.

HOUSEKEEPING TRAINING COURSES 21

PROFESSIONAL HOUSEKEEPING OPERATIONS JANUARY 2024 The NIHF, in conjunction with Hallmark Training, has created a one-day programme for Housekeeping Attendants. The aim of this programme is to help housekeeping/room attendants develop best practice in servicing hotel accommodation. At the end of this programme participants will be able to:

PROFESSIONAL HOUSEKEEPING operations

NORTHERN IRELAND HOTELS FEDERATION

Maldron Hotel Belfast City Centre Tuesday 9th or Wednesday 10th January 2024 09.30 - 16.00

•

• • • •

Recognise the importance of the accommodation department & its contribution to the bottom line State what is expected of them as house assistant/room attendants Describe the main principles & practices of cleaning Explain the importance of standards Be better able to clean hotel accommodation to the standards required

This course costs £95 + VAT per person. Places are very limited to ensure that everyone benefits from the training. This one-day course will be held in the Maldron Hotel Belfast City Centre. Two dates are available - the course will be the same on both days. You can book the course online now via nihf.co.uk or call us on 028 9077 6635.

The content has been created with a practical approach designed to give a good grounding to front line staff within the housekeeping function, to highlight the importance of their role and to instil best practice principles. Participative methods will be used throughout the programme, building upon the existing experience of course members. Learning methods used will include tutor input, discussion and syndicate exercises. There will be a physical room check and discussion on findings.

Mary Hall, Hallmark Training The course will be delivered by Mary Hall who has significant practical experience working directly in the tourism industry prior to and throughout her career in Fáilte Ireland.

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ECONOMICS

Webb Wonders Musings from the Federation’s Economic Advisor

EVENTS/STRATEGY ANDREW WEBB ON THE NEW 10-YEAR PLAN AND MORE EVENTS NEEDED As I write this article, it is the morning after the night before. A chance meeting during the week means I found myself at the SSE Arena on a Saturday night enjoying a night of boxing entertainment. The atmosphere was brilliant and at the end, as thousands of people streamed out and across the bridge to the city centre, I was reminded how important events are for our hospitality sector. We have had many major international events come to town and the argument for them is that they attract international tourism. All true, but we shouldn’t lose sight of the importance of giving residents reasons to come out and support our tourism sector. Thinking more about events, and giving reasons to people to visit here, there is a lot to look forward to in 2024. Having complained in other outlets about how down at heel Belfast has looked in recent years, I am particularly looking forward to ‘Belfast 2024’. Belfast 2024 emerged from the ashes of Belfast’s bid for European City of Culture in 2018. Belfast City Council is investing £5.9 million

to deliver the city’s biggest ever creative and cultural celebration, with a programme of world-class spectacle events and communityled activities planned for throughout the city in 2024, beginning next spring. People, Place and Planet will be the key themes in a programme that will see over 200 events, workshops and activities in Belfast from March to November 2024. That’s something I think we can all look forward to and something that will definitely bring a vibrancy to the city. Something equally exciting to look forward to, no really, is the Department of the Economy’s Tourism Strategy for Northern Ireland. This 10-year plan is open for consultation at the moment so I would encourage anyone with an interest in tourism to have a read. Apart from the unfortunate set of circumstances that mean that as we enter 2024 and set off on the journey of a 10 year tourism plan the data presented about tourism’s performance is still from 2019, there really is much to admire in the plan. Being innovative, bringing opportunities for all parts of our

society, placing sustainability at the heart of tourism, seeking to bring more people here for longer, and working in collaboration are all sensible and appropriate themes that the Department will hope delivers an increase in the value of tourism to the NI economy by 5075% compared to 2019. Ambition is good. One thing I would caution however – from my perspective, the hotel and hospitality sector has played a massive role in getting NI’s tourism sector to the positive place it is in now. Over one billion pounds of investment in the last 20 years has almost doubled the size of the hotel sector here. So, given this scale of investment, the new 10 year tourism plan has to recognise (and I think it does) that major challenges on carbon reduction, staff availability, automation etc. are going to require a partnership between the public and private sector on a level that we probably haven’t seen before.

TOURISM

NITA REPORT ON VALUE DR JOANNE STUART OBE

REAL VALUE OF NORTHERN IRELAND TOURISM IS £2.3BN When the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance (NITA) was created in 2018 one of its core objectives was to provide tourism-related businesses and policy makers with an accurate understanding of the scale and value of the sector. Until NITA commissioned Grant Thornton in 2023 to provide a proper economic evaluation of the sector and its supply chain effect, tourism was usually measured by the value of visitor spend. At c,£1bn this provides a good headline figure, but in economic terms it significantly undervalues the sector’s real impact. According to Grant Thornton’s analysis – taking into account supply chain spend and the number of jobs tourism supports in other sectors – the true picture in 2021 was a £2.3bn impact accounting for 5.1% of the entire local economy (Gross Value Add). This equates to supporting c.65,000 jobs, an impressive 7% of all local employment. Even more impressively, due to COVID-19 restrictions which halted tourism activity for three months in 2021 the report only covered nine-months. An analysis of prepandemic 2019 concluded that the sector was worth £3bn or 6.8% of the economy. NITA already engages regularly with policy makers and politicians across these islands on issues such as the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) permit scheme, but we also lobby on issues such

NITA

as skills, costs, sustainability and departmental budget cuts on NI promotional spend. The report provides the evidence to continue that engagement with the conviction that tourism is indisputably one of our largest sectors and that it can deliver substantial economic benefits right across NI. Thoughts for 2024 NITA also commissioned a survey of 200 tourism firms which provides some potential insight into 2024. Generally, the outlook was positive with much of the sector returning to pre-pandemic levels of activity. It is clear, however, that substantial structural challenges remain - a significant number reported that finances are fragile and that COVID-19 restrictions have caused long-lasting damage to cash flows. Almost half of respondents reported that their business was ‘stable’, but nearly a quarter were consolidating and 17% were ‘financially fragile’. Just over 10% were performing ahead of plan or expanding. Almost a third said staff shortages were restricting operational effectiveness. In all honesty, it’s too hard to call what 2024 will be like. On the plus

side, inflation has tumbled, interest rates have peaked, consumer confidence should improve and the flurry of local hotel planning applications bodes well. On the other hand, the Middle East crisis may disrupt international travel which is still behind pre-Covid levels, cuts in promotional budgets will feed through eventually to visitor numbers and the cost of doing business remains high and volatile. On balance, given how resilient the sector has been, and with more opportunities for growth, particularly from GB and the States, 2024 has potential to be a positive year. Those who get the basics right and continue to invest in their product and their people should get the rewards they deserve. The Grant Thornton report is available at nitourismalliance.com

Insights into skills and labour market needs

67% of employers experienced challenges in retaining staff in the last 12 months, and only 30% of employers feel the training and development they offer fully meets the skills needs of employees.

Have you considered ways to improve the employee experience and develop your teams?

State of the Workforce 2023 examines the changing skills and labour market across the tourism and hospitality sector in Northern Ireland. Importantly, it also showcases a number of the successful approaches being adopted by employers, including:

Improving the employee experience:

Developing your team:

Presenting career pathways, learning and development opportunities and long term development plans to new colleagues as part of induction.

Utilise available best practice

Touchpoint calls’ with staff in their first 6 months to resolve issues and improve retention. Calls from senior management on progress. Good work-life balance

resources in developing your people and multi-skilling your teams Connect with the available government funded training programmes through delivery partners to support workforce upskilling and re-skilling Invest in craft and higher-level apprenticeships as a development

Making colleagues feel valued through welcome gifts and inclusion in higher-level meetings with senior decision makers. Helping them to feel part of something bigger.

pathway for your teams Prioritise developing management and leadership capabilities to aid employee

Flexible working opportunities (clearly communicated)

engagement, wellbeing and retention

Plan operations strategically and commit Regular employee engagement surveys that also look at generational differences

to releasing employees for management development and training programmes

For more information and helpful tips, read the full findings at www.hatsnetwork.co.uk/state-of-the-workforce-2023

LEGAL UPDATE

WORKING TIME REGULATIONS

NEW OFFICE FOR MCKEES NEW ENNISKILLEN OFFICE AS PART OF AMBITIOUS GROWTH PLAN

POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS OF HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT AND PAY FOR SECTOR In January 2024, the Government is planning to create changes to holiday entitlement and pay, affecting both employees and employers. Andrea McCann Although this McKees legislation will only apply in England, it is envisaged that these changes could be adopted in Northern Ireland at a future date. Andrea McCann, a partner in McKees, and a specialist in employment law, has examined the potential impact this could have on employers and how hotels might need to move forward in line with these recommendations. The changes planned by the Government will amend current regulations from looking back retrospectively at the previous year and multiplying last year’s hours by 12.7% to ascertain the next holiday entitlement, but rather changes it to a system whereby part-time workers/irregular workers obtain more holidays as they work. The system is therefore much more dependent on an individual’s actual hours of work. This will have a widespread impact among all employers, but particularly in the hospitality sector, where parttime and casual workers are more common. Employers will therefore have to review their current holiday systems and reflect whether it

needs to be amended in line with the new regulations. They will need to consider whether they want to encourage their workers to use their holiday time in the current working year, or whether they will allow this to be rolled over, as this could have a significant impact on staff availability. Employers will also need to have rigid systems in place that will allow them to accurately calculate how many days staff members can accrue throughout the year, particularly as the new regulations are much more dependent on each employee. The Supreme Court case of Chief Constable of the PSNI and another v Agnew and others centered around the responsibility for employers to rectify incorrect calculations of holiday pay, and how far back they may be liable for this. The case not only highlighted the financial implications of the incorrect calculation of holiday pay but emphasised the importance of calculating holiday pay correctly in the first instance. The Supreme Court case highlighted the importance of ensuring appropriate systems are in place to ensure that pay is calculated correctly so as to avoid any claims being made against the company. Whilst it may take time and investment to do so, it could protect the company financially in the long run. McKees has an expert team of employment law solicitors and for further information on how they can help your business go to mckeeslaw.com or call 028 9023 2303.

McKees has opened a new office in Enniskillen and has announced plans to create 10 new jobs over the next two years. Located in Abbey House Business Centre, the expansion follows a period of continued growth for McKees and growing demand for its services in the South West of Northern Ireland from existing and potential clients. Chris Ross, Managing Partner of McKees said: “We are delighted to open a new office in Enniskillen and bring our extensive commercial expertise and services to the area. With a strong multi-jurisdictional team and specialist capability in hospitality, financial services, property, employment and disputes, it is an exciting time for McKees as we continue to grow our business and reputation.” Co Fermanagh native and Partner at McKees, Linus Murray added: “Over the last number of years our work in the hospitality and leisure sector in particular has grown significantly and this has formed a large part of our business in the Co Fermanagh and Co Tyrone area and will be a key focus for us. I was born in Enniskillen and my father, the late Dr Louis Murray, was a well-respected GP in the Roslea and surrounding area, so it is a very proud time for me to be returning to Co Fermanagh in a professional capacity.”

TOURISM NORTHERN IRELAND

MAKE IT HERE TOURISM NI PHASE 3 PLANS FOR SPRING TNI HAS A BUSY QUARTER WITH THE FOLLOWING HIGHLIGHTS TAKING PLACE FROM JANUARY TO MARCH Toolkit for Tourism & Hospitality Businesses

TOURISM MEET THE ENTERPRISE BUYER 2024 Tourism NI’s Make It Here campaign will go live in January for a third the Buyer is Tourism Northern DEVELOPMENT Meet phase, mainly deployed on digital Ireland’s flagship event and Our TED programme will continue into Q4 with a focus on Sustainability; Jan: Leaner & Greener 2 Biodiversity webinars All previous TED webinars and sessions can be accessed at Tourism Enterprise Development Programme (tourismni.com) including the popular Summer & Autumn Lunch & Learn series.

SPRING MARKETING CAMPAIGN The Spring marketing campaign is scheduled to go live on 22nd January 2024, running until the end of March. A supporting toolkit and webinar will be available for industry to get involved in the campaign. Don’t miss future updates from Tourism NI on a whole range of industry support – sign up now to our targeted ezines.

provides an excellent opportunity for you to showcase your tourism business to a pre-qualified group of international buyers from Northern Ireland key markets. Following the success of the 2023 event, we are delighted that the event will take place again next year in a face-to-face format. Due to overwhelming interest from the international tour operators in 2023 for additional appointments to be made available with the Northern Ireland industry, we have increased the workshop appointment schedule from 1 day to 1.5 days: Full day 9th April, Half day 10th April. More details at the link below and Expressions of Interest close on Friday 5th January 2024 at 5pm.

channels supported by radio sponsorship. The campaign seeks to continue to change perceptions of working in tourism and hospitality by up highlighting the commonly overlooked positives of working in the sector such as flexibility, career progression & training opportunities and doing something you love. The first two phases have seen over 45k visits to the dedicated microsite – www.makeyourcareer.co.uk with over 19k then going on to visit a partner recruitment site to peruse tourism & hospitality vacancies. This demonstrates great interest in the sector. There are many ways for tourism & hospitality businesses to get involved; • Download the campaign toolkit at tourismni.com. • Tell us your Tourism & Hospitality Career Story! We are on the lookout for great stories from the sector and no better ambassadors than our people. • Download a range of FREE images to use in your recruitment & retention activity showcasing a variety of roles from housekeeping, front of house, bar, restaurant, visitor attraction, outdoor activities & more • One Workplace TTP Web Portal • Read a range of practical supports to help with recruitment and retention including a FREE People Healthcheck.

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