Quarterly Newsletter

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

SEÁN O’DRISCOLL

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

I am delighted to welcome you to our very first company-wide team magazine! This initiative aims to keep everyone informed about the latest updates and achievements across our hotels and group. We believe that staying connected and sharing our successes is essential for fostering a strong sense of unity and pride within our company.

In this magazine, we plan to share quarterly updates, ensuring that everyone is up-to-date with what’s happening across our properties. Whether it’s exciting news, noteworthy achievements, or important developments, we want to celebrate them together.

I am particularly delighted to announce the newest additions to the iNUA Collection in 2023; the Springfield Hotel in Leixlip, the Gateway Hotel in Dundalk, and the Gasworks Hotel in Belfast. The addition of these hotels, along with their dedicated teams, bring immense value to our collection, hugely enhancing the experience we offer to our guests.

Reflecting on 2023, it was a remarkable year for our hotels. Demand for hotel rooms soared across the group, signalling our continued success and growth in the industry. Our capital expenditure in 2023 was focused on enhancing the guest experience, with Ariel House and the Springfield Hotel undergoing massive transformations, completely redefining the Guest arrival, relaxation, and dining experiences. Additionally, the Radisson Blu Hotel

in Athlone has added the Pergola for additional dining, anticipating a busy greenway season ahead! We have further investment plans for 2024 aimed not only at elevating the guest experience but also advancing our commitment to sustainability, ensuring our properties lead with innovation and care for our planet.

At iNUA & Cliste, our commitment extends beyond being just a good employer; we strive to be a great one. We began by increasing pay rates at the start of 2024 and are leading the way with initiatives like matching employee pension contributions up to 3%, providing access to wellbeing supports and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), and offering exceptional learning and development opportunities through iNUA Academy initiatives.

Paul and I are steadfast in our commitment to making decisions where our people and our guests are at the heart of everything we do.

Thank you for your dedication and hard work, and for being an essential part of the iNUA & Cliste story. You embody the core values that strengthen our iNUA & Cliste family, including passion, courage, trust, innovation, growth, community, and sustainability.

As we grow and strive to maintain our position as leaders in hospitality, let’s continue to work together towards a successful year. Thank you for being part of our journey.

Seán O’Driscoll Chief Executive Officer The iNua Collection

CONTENTS

Quarterly Hotel Highlights

iNUA HOSPITALITY

Chef Traineeship Culinary Success Culinary Olympics

In February, our Commis Chefs took part in the Cliste Culinary Competition as a key part of their iNUA Collection Traineeship. Guided by outstanding mentors, they created unique menus that highlighted their skills with innovative takes on Modernized Irish Comfort Food. The competition showcased a variety of dishes, from the hearty taste of Guinness Shepherd’s Pie to the sweet indulgence of Baileys Cheesecake, underlining our chefs’ remarkable talent and dedication to culinary excellence.

New Appointment

In other culinary news, we were delighted to welcome Barry Liscombe to the group as our Group Head Chef. With a diverse background in various culinary operations, Barry brings a wealth of experience to our team. We are thrilled to welcome Barry, and we wish him all the best on the exciting journey he is about to embark on with us.

Irish Junior Chefs: Bronze Triumph

Cliste were delighted to have sponsored €10,000 to Team Ireland travelling to the Culinary Olympics. Amazingly, two of our Junior Chefs also took part of the Junior Ireland Team at the 2024 International Culinary Olympics that took place in Stuttgart, Germany, receiving bronze in the competition! Evan Duane who is training at the Tullamore Court Hotel and Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Sligo and Seth Caslin from the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone joined a team of nine chefs from across Ireland, who battled it out against 66 teams of 24 other nations.

“

A wonderful achievement for Evan, Seth & the Junior Team to achieve a bronze medal at the culinary Olympics at such an early stage of their career. Just 6 months into our traineeship and already being able to represent Ireland on a global platform amongst many other talented chefs from all over the world. I was privileged to see them in action in their heats being judged by acclaimed & experienced chefs who viewed all under the culinary microscope from taste and presentation to hygiene, organisation, and professional skills. Well done to them all and we can be very proud to have them in our teams!

Stefan Matz , Group Executive Chef

Evan Duane Tullamore Court, Seth Caslin Radisson Blu Athlone, Stewart Lang Springfield, Inaki Guevara Dublin One, Ryan McGill Fairways, Jason McEnroe Tullamore, Dino Balasevic Hibernian, Jason Murphy Muckross Park, Kevin Togher Rad Limerick, Rafic Karrad Rad Limerick, Seth Caslin Rad Athlone.

Evan Duane Tullamore Court Hotel, Seth Caslin Radisson Blu Athlone

Barry Lascombe Group Head Chef, Chris Austin Group Director of Operations and Stefan Matz Group Executive Chef deliberating at Junior Cliste Culinary Competition

Quarterly Hotel Highlights

iNUA HOSPITALITY

Celebrating our Partnership with Down Syndrome Ireland.

We are delighted to acknowledge our upcoming anniversary of five years of really impactful collaboration with Down Syndrome Ireland! Together, we have contributed to a tangible difference in the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

A huge thank you to the teams across our iNUA Collection Hotels, we have collectively raised over €150,000 through various initiatives such as delightful ice cream fun days to moving like mad with #lotsofsocks and #lotsofsteps! The sustainable initiative of Clean the Planet, Not my Room along with the generous Christmas voucher DSI donation campaigns have inspired our guests to select our hotels for these very reasons. Your creativity and commitment to supporting DSI has truly made a difference.

The unexpected win is the DSI National Employment Programme to bring sustainable employment to members as part of the iNUA Collection partnership. We are immensely proud to announce that to date, we have welcomed 20 colleagues who are graduates of the program or beneficiaries of the support provided by DSI’s exceptional employment support team, led by the remarkable Aoife Gaffney.

We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported our partnership. Whether through fundraising efforts, extending a warm welcome to DSI graduates joining our team, or simply spreading awareness and support, your contributions have been invaluable. Together, we are making a positive impact but also fostering a more inclusive and compassionate workplace for all.

Deirdre Buckley Group HR Director

Aga & Deirdre O’Neill Hibernian

Claire Murphy Hibernian

Fiona O’Brien Radisson Cork

Desmond McMahon Gateway

Yann O’Carroll Muckross

Ciara O’Brien & Noel Comer DUBL!N ONE

Management Development Programme

Best wishes to the Management Development Programme Class of 2024. The recent MDP Launch Day at Tullamore Court Hotel was a big success. We had a great time bonding with our colleagues through fun team-building activities organised by the Restaurant Hospitality Skillnet with James Sexton, co creator of Ireland’s Fittest Family! It was a really energetic & great start to the programme!

Supervisory Programme

Employer Excellence Programme

March 2024 saw all our hotels accredited with the Failte Ireland Employer Excellence Award!

Congratulations to

Gold recipients - Muckross Park Hotel & Spa and Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Limerick.

Trevor McCarthy Group Learning & Development Manager “

Our first Online Supervisory Programme of 2024 focused on Managing People – QQI Level 6 is almost complete, with nearly 20 colleagues completing this programme online over a number of weeks. The programme equips each colleague with the knowledge and skills required to excel in the art of managing people.

Silver Winners - Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Cork, Hillgrove Hotel, Hibernian Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Sligo, Fairways Hotel, Gateway Hotel & Ariel House

And our bronze medallists- Dublin One Hotel, Radisson Athlone and Tullamore Court Hotel

Great Place to Work

Congratulations to the nine of our hotels who have been accredited as a Great Place to Work this year. Well done to Muckross Park Hotel, Ariel House, Radisson Hotel and Spa Limerick, Hillgrove Hotel, Radisson Blu Cork, Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel, Radisson Hotel and Spa Sligo, Fairways Hotel and The Gateway Hotel Dundalk.

MDP Class 2024 - Manuela Ribaric, Alex Jukowska, Gavin Gillen, Fiach O’Connor, Gabriella Scerri, Ruth Kiely, Elizabeth Hipwell, Kolitha Pallegama, Gayan Senevirathna, Ruwan Thilina Liyanage

Brian Coffey, Ionaria Silva Santos, Mark Cummins, Meighean Furlong, Monte Reke, Caitlin McKnight, Mark Coffey

Therese Phipps ETB, Louise O’Dowd, Eugenie Blanchard, Enesa Husejnovic, Ramune Guillermo

Enhancing Diversity Efforts

Silver Survey

Our Silver Survey will be launched shortly to get your feedback on how we are doing as an inclusive employer, we would be delighted if you could take a few moments to complete this survey to help us make our workplace more inclusive and equitable. In hospitality, we have the privilege of working in one of the most diverse teams there is and are so lucky to work with amazing people from all backgrounds and walks of life, not forgetting the wide array of guests at the heart of what we do.

To take part in the survey, scan the QR code

Flow Learning & Development Opportunities

We continue to grow the opportunities in Learning & Development with Flow Learning by Mapal, using features such as training calendars and starting to engage with Noticeboards and Collections to help share SOPs and other valuable material to support colleagues in their roles. Mapal One (Learners)

Trevor McCarthy Group Learning & Development Manager

To access Mapal, scan the QR code

See below some key events and dates to mark

Learning & Development

Keila de Souza, our General Manager is currently participating in the iNUA Leadership Programme along with Ascencao Maria Soares who has enrolled in the Management Development Programme. Both programmes offer a fantastic opportunity for personal and professional growth.

New Appointment

Let’s extend a warm welcome to Chitrangee Chavan, who has joined our front office team. We’re thrilled to have you on board!

Refurbishment

We’ve been busy with investments in enhancing our guest experience and last year, we completed a remarkable €400,000 investment, and now we’re gearing up for even more improvements in 2024 such as starting with refurbishing 8 rooms in the garden wing. We’re also investing in sustainability measures, including the installation of solar panels and energyefficient lighting. Additionally, we’ll be recarpeting the remaining 23 rooms, along with painting, carpentry work, and adding individual touches to enhance each room. We continue to support each other and strive for excellence in everything we do at Ariel House.

New Appointment

Brian Ryan, General Manager at the Viaduct welcomes Paul Fitzgerald who joined the team there last November. Since then, Paul has settled in brilliantly with our team. In his spare time, Paul is a keen sports fan and takes part in many Special Olympic sports such as soccer, badminton and bowling.

Paul says - ‘Since starting at the Viaduct, the team have been very supportive and friendly to me. I like meeting the customers and talking to them. I enjoy working in the Viaduct and I love having a job’

Welcome to the Viaduct team Paul!

New Appointments

Employee of the Year

We are delighted to announce that William Burke has been appointed as Cluster General Manager over the Fairways Hotel and Gateway Hotel. Since joining us as General Manager of the Fairways Hotel, William has had a significant impact on the operations and the strategic performance of the hotel. A highly experienced Hotel Manager, William joined us from the Talbot Hotel Group where he managed several properties during his 7 years with the group and has had extensive hotel management experience in both Ireland and the UK.

We recently welcomed Eoin Galvin Meeting and Events Sales Manager to the team. Eoin is a native of County Kerry and brings to the team a wealth of knowledge in the hospitality sector. Eoin’s expertise lies in crafting innovative strategies to drive revenue growth and enhance brand recognition. Now, as part of the iNUA collection, Eoin is committed to upholding the highest standards of excellence.

We are a GPTW!

We were absolutely delighted to be joining the list of other hotels within the INUA Collection as an accredited Great Place to Work! This accreditation reflects our dedication and teamwork and the culture we have established over the last number of years.

Congratulations to Ciaran Dullaghan who won our 2023 Employee of the Year at The Gateway Hotel! Ciaran’s dedication has shone brightly throughout the year, where he played a crucial role on our reception team. His warm and friendly nature had a lasting impression on our guests, going above and beyond to exceed their expectations. His positive and approachable energy and his ability to foster connections with corporate clients and ensure a home like touch for travellers, took him from the bar team to reception and most recently to our events department. We look forward to developing and being a part of his journey! As Ciaran says, ‘This to me is only the beginning of my career here and I can’t wait to see where this path can take me in the future.’.

Hello from Radisson Blu Athlone

We have had an exciting start to 2024 here in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone. Below are highlights of our recent internal promotions along with our colleagues who have begun their learning & development journeys! The hotel has also had many reasons to celebrate recently, with Commis Chef Seth Caslin representing both the Hotel & group at the international Culinary Olympics, while closer to home, the hotel was delighted to receive our Green Hospitality – Silver Award in December 2023.

Internal Promotions

Tanja Samara joined the hotel in 2022 as a Brasserie Food & Beverage Assistant. Tanja’s natural flair for guest service, her meticulous attention to detail and a strong interest in her career progression led her to becoming a Departmental Coach last year and now to the role of Brasserie Supervisor.

Employee of the Year

Congratulations to Daisy Gao , our valued Accounts Assistant who recently won our Employee of the Year award 2023!

Green Hospitality & Silver Award

This year we were delighted to be awarded the Green Hospitality Silver Award. Chris Lally, P&C Manager spearheaded this program throughout the hotel over a 9-month period. His hard work, attention to detail & commitment to the project, lead firstly to achieving Eco-Label award which was followed by our Hotel receiving the Silver Award in December 2023.

Culinary Olympics Bronze Award

Ilhan Simsek began working in the hotel in 2018 as a Meeting & Events Assistant before moving over to the Brasserie. Ilhan excelled in the Brasserie, having continuously developed his food & beverage skills and he is very excited for his new role as Meeting & Events Supervisor.

We wish Both Tanja & Ilhan continued success in

Learning & Development

Our colleague Seth Caslin has been demonstrating his passion and flair for food and culinary expertise! Seth is currently on the Commis Chef Traineeship with the iNua Collection. With guidance and support from Jack Flaherty, Senior Sous Chef and Mentor, Seth proudly represented iNUA and the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone when he became part of a team of six at the Culinary Olympics in Germany this year. During what proved to be a very successful competition, Seth received a Bronze Medal for Ireland in the competition.

We are delighted to announce that Manuela Ribaric, Brasserie Supervisor and Jack Flaherty, Senior Sous Chef began their journey on the Management Development Program this year. Since joining, both have been key members in their respective departments & we are excited to see how their careers will develop with us in the future!

Chris Lally & Fergus O’Donovan pictured with the Silver Label Award

After our seasonal closure of almost 6 weeks, the team at Muckross gathered with excitement to reopen our doors on Friday 9th February. We had a soft opening of sorts when we welcomed our industry colleagues from The Gleneagle Hotel to The Valentia Suite for their Annual Party on Thursday, 8th February.

Awards

This quarter the team at Muckross received some fantastic awards.

Our fabulous Accommodation Team returned from the IASI Awards in Cavan with the coveted Gold Medal Award in Excellence for the 5-star category nationwide!

Our Head Concierge Gene O’Sullivan attended the annual Clef d’Or Awards night in Clontarf Castle. We delighted that Gene is a member of this prestigious organisation for luxury Concierge.

During the month of February, we also received our official Great Place to Work Accreditation alongside our Employee Excellence Award from Failte Ireland. From a culinary perspective, two of our talented chefs attended our Cliste Hospitality Commis Chef Competition and Jason Murphy came 2nd place after creating a beautiful menu under the guidance of Scott Kapitan. In the Senior Sustainability Chef of the Year competition, Pradeep Sagara was the proud winner!

February was a really challenging month for hospitality in Killarney, but the Muckross Team put their shoulder to the wheel and with innovative packages over Valentines Week alongside aggressive rate management, we managed to beat our competitors to have the highest occupancy in Killarney

Team members Muckross Park Hotel

Accommodation Team

Helping the community

Team Hillgrove recently organised a little pick-up with Monaghan Tidy Towns and Monaghan County Council on a cold and frosty Saturday morning. Giving back a little bit to the local community who support us so well.

also had a very

Internal Promotion

We would like to give a special mention to Catherine Kane who has only been with us a short time but has recently been promoted from F&B assistant to Bistro supervisor – Catherine has proved herself to be a wonderful addition to our F&B team!

Employee of the Year

It is an absolute pleasure to announce that our ever reliable, hardworking, dedicated and super dependable Store Person Daniel Sololoski has been awarded Employee of the Year for 2023! Daniel is crucial to our operation and so well respected by the team for the work he does. Many congratulations Daniel and thank you so much for your consistent, hardworking approach to your role - it is very much appreciated!

Awards

The Team at Hillgrove were awarded the iNUA Hotel of the Year award for 2023. A remarkable achievement for all to receive and celebrate. This was also the first year we have been officially accredited as a Great Place to Work which is a brilliant achievement and a wonderful reflection of our team.

We

exciting VIP’s visit! The Taoiseach and Minister Humphreys TD met our TMDP student Nicola O’Connell and longest serving employee Liam Sweeney on a recent visit to Monaghan and The Hillgrove.

Our Accommodation Manager Veronika Markova and her team recently picked up a GOLD award from IASI for achieving excellence in Accommodation Services standards for 2023.

Veronika Markova Accepting gold award at the iASi awards

TMDP student Nicola O’Connell and Liam Sweeney pictured with Taoiseach and Minister Humphreys TD

Green Hospitality Award

Tullamore Court Hotel proudly announces its recent achievement of ECO status with the Green Hospitality Awards, solidifying its commitment to sustainability in the hospitality industry. This accomplishment comes on the heels of the hotel being honoured with the ‘Best Sustainable Hotel’ award at the Midland 103 Hospitality Awards, underscoring our dedication to environmentally conscious practices. From energy efficiency to waste reduction, the hotel has implemented a range of ecofriendly initiatives aimed at creating a more sustainable and responsible operation.

Our focus for 2024 is to continue to introduce innovative and eco-friendly experiences for our guests. Tullamore Court Hotel embraces an innovative approach to sustainability by holding quarterly Carbon Neutral Days for our staff. These special days are a testament to our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint and fostering a culture of sustainability within our team which is reflected in the awarding of both ‘Best Sustainable Hotel’ and now the Green Hospitality ECO award.

Garret O’Neill Managing Director of Tullamore Court Hotel

The Green Hospitality ECO Award status as well as the recent accolade as the ‘Best Sustainable Hotel’ at the Midland 103 Hospitality Awards further fuels our commitment to green & sustainable tourism. To celebrate, we planted 100 native flower bulbs on our grounds, not just as a symbol of growth but as a tangible investment in biodiversity. Through such initiatives, we aim to create an immersive and eco-conscious experience for our guests, inviting them to be a part of our journey towards a greener and more sustainable future

Employee of the Year

Congratulations to our Employee of the Year Krista Mihelsone ! Krista is an Accommodation Supervisor at Tullamore Court Hotel and a valued member of our team. Krista has recently completed the Management Development Program, showcasing her dedication to personal and professional growth.

New Appointment

Maree O’Brien Guest Experience & Green Manager, Tullamore Court Hotel

David Brickland has joined us as Food and Beverage Manager. David is originally from Tullamore and comes to us with a lot of experience. He was Food and Beverage Manager and then Assistant Hotel Manager in a hotel in Galway and he worked for a time in Radisson Blu Hotel in Athlone. David is joining a very busy food operation, and he will be responsible for all Food and Beverage areas in the hotel. He is very enthusiastic about his new role, and we are delighted to have him join the team.

Colleague Appreciation

We were delighted to celebrate our fantastic team of colleagues this National Hospitality Worker Appreciation Day! Thank you to each and every one of you who make up this brilliant team.

New Appointment

We are pleased to introduce to you our new colleague German Andres Troglia who joined the Dublin One team in October of 2023. He has settled in very well and is a fantastic part of our Dublin One Team. German has previous experience in Accounting and Law dating back to Argentina.

German came to Ireland with the ambitions to work in Finance and develop his skills. Currently, German is studying and preparing for his exams in an Advance Diploma in Accounting. He is very ambitious and wants to succeed in his studies and continue developing and eventually aiming to become a Financial Controller.

Employee of the Year

Congratulations to our 2023 Employee of the Year Vali Sorop. Throughout this year, Vali exemplified what it means to go above and beyond, inspiring us with his hard work and positive attitude. Vali is a pleasure to work with, coming into work with a smile and leaving with a smile. He helps the team around him and truly lives the values of the iNUA Collection.

A wonderful start to the New Year here in the Fairways Hotel as we have seen big awards being presented to our kitchen staff and we have a big promotion for the lady of the hotel.

Internal Promotion

Ms. Úna Clifford has been promoted to Hotel Manager, having served as Deputy General Manager since the hotel’s 2019 reopening. Her promotion coincides with our General Manager’s focus on The Fairways Hotel and The Gateway. We are also thrilled for Úna getting married at the end of March. We extend our best wishes for her new role and personal milestone.

Our Commis Chef Mr Ryan Magill was awarded first place winner of the recent Cliste Hospitality Culinary Chef Competition which is part of his Commis Chef Traineeship here in the Fairways Hotel. We are super proud of Ryan and very lucky to have him. Ryan works hard and is very driven in what he does, he is an exceptional asset to our team.

Remembering Ariane

Ariane Barros joined the Fairways team in May 2022. Ariane was from Brazil, 36 years of age and came to Ireland to look for a better life. Ariane studied in DKIT in Dundalk while working part time in Accommodation for almost 2 years.

Ariane was a very kind and beautiful person. She always came to work with a big smile on her face and got on well with everyone in the Accommodation team and the wider team of the Hotel.

We are still shocked of how quick everything happens, and we still miss her a lot as she was a valuable member of team Fairways and a pleasure to work with.

Ariane will stay in our thoughts forever!

Internal Promotions

2024 has already been a fantastic year for Radisson Limerick. So far in the first few months, we’ve had 3 internal promotions:

Gillian Deedigan Deputy General Manager

Gillian began her career in hospitality over 20 years ago. Since then, she has gained experience managing almost all departments. From Innovation Leader to Group Spa Manager of The iNUA Collection, and now her most recent promotion to Deputy General Manager at Radisson Limerick.

Ada Vila Calm Assistant M&E Manager

Ada embarked on her journey at the Radisson Blu hotel in September 2022 bringing exceptional motivation to learn. Her dedication led her to seamlessly navigate through challenges, showcasing various abilities in hospitality and customer service. Most recently, Ada was awarded our Employee of the Year 2023.

A true believer in the power of continuous learning, Gillian completed the Senior Management Development Programme with iNUA, courses in digital marketing and project management and received a green belt with Lean Sigma. Currently enrolled in the iNUA Leadership Development Programme, Gillian continues to invest in her leadership skills.

Helping the Community

We are pleased to share that we’ve contributed to the community by walking 10km to raise €360 for Milford Hospice Limerick.

We are delighted to have introduced Salsa dancing classes in the hotel for all colleagues with 50% of the proceeds being donated to DSI. This began March 5th and is being rolled out every Thursday evening! So far, our classes have been so much fun and is also making difference to a charity close to our hearts.

Gabriella Scerri Bars, M&E Manager

Gabriella joined us from Malta in Jan 2023 as M&E Operations manager. She is a core part of our team and has displayed our company values in every aspect of her role. Congratulations Gabriella, we cannot wait to see you thrive in your new role with us.

Awards

Our commis chef Kevin Togher won 3rd place in Cliste Culinary Competition. Our chef de partie, Amalsha Dehiwalage won gold medal and received highest marks in class at the IFEX Food exhibition in Belfast.

HOTEL & SPA, LIMERICK

Suzanne O’Dwyer, Ashlynn Sweeney, Anna Maslej, Emma Dillon completing the Milford 10km

Team Appreciation

Internal Promotion

Celebrating our last few months together at our first team event. In January, the whole team gathered after Christmas to have some food, drinks, lots of dancing and to celebrate the previous 9 months we’d spent together.

Conor Barrett joined our team 6 months ago and is a participant of NOW Group which is a social enterprise that supports those with neurodiverse conditions and disabilities get into long term sustainable employment. In January, Conor became a proud recipient of a Silver Gaisce Presidents Award.

Honouring the exceptional women of Springfield! Recognizing the dedicated individuals from our esteemed Food & Beverage department, Reception, Accommodation, and offices. Their remarkable commitment spans from 2 to an impressive 42 years, collectively amassing an impressive 160 years of service.

Our colleague Laoibhse Bold has been working in Springfield for the past 2.5 years as an M&E colleague. Laoibhse has recently been promoted to M&E Team Leader. Throughout her time as a part time Colleague working at Weddings and events, Laoibhse dedicated herself to giving exceptional customer service. She put herself out there and showed us why she was the right fit for this role.

Anne-Marie Jarvi, 7 years in Springfield as receptionist, has been promoted to Front Office Manager! Anne-Marie comes from a hotel background and was an operations manager in a local Hotel. After having her daughter, Ann Marie took a step back and came to us as a receptionist. Ann Marie is a dedicated, loyal and hardworking colleague who is the perfect team member

Audrey, 12 years in Springfield as Front Office Manager, started as our new Sales Manager. For the past 12 years, Audrey Buckley has been the backbone of the reception in Springfield. Since iNUA took ownership of Springfield, Audrey adapted her role and really went above and beyond to support us by filling in gaps when we had no Sales Manager. During this time, Audrey proved herself to be an exceptionally well organised person that we know will excel in her new role.

Stewart Lang (Rambo), almost 2 years in Springfield as kitchen porter, was promoted to Commis Chef and enrolled in the Chef Traineeship programme with iNUA. Rambo was first inspired to step into a culinary career after observing Chefs on television and seeing the passion they had for their craft. Once Rambo began to take to the kitchen himself, his love for cooking grew and grew. We were very excited to see Rambo take this love and passion for cooking to the spotlight where he made a lamb stew with dumplings, and for dessert, a white chocolate bread and butter pudding.

Springfield Team Christmas Party

Awards

The Radisson Blu Cork has been celebrating a number of achievements already this year thanks to the hard work and dedication of our teams. We wanted to highlight a few of those achievements and also recognise our continuing commitment to training and being an excellent employer, in this little update.

We were proud to recognise David Murphy for his hard work and dedication to the hotel as employee of the year, he has already booked his holiday with the prize fund, and we wish him an amazing two weeks away! Also, this year we were able to enrole two managers on the iNUA management development programme and we have high hopes for Ruth Keily and Kolitha Pallegama.

In other news, we are celebrating being named a Great Place to Work for the first time since enrolling in the programme, this was only possible due to the open communication and dedication to the team and making everyone a priority. We are grateful to our team for recognising these efforts and sharing their confidential opinions and giving us a foundation for improvement.

Our management team have worked hard to complete their employer excellence training with Failte Ireland, which has earned us a silver award for 2024, this is a great achievement in such a short time and we are looking forward to enrolling new managers on this awesome course in the coming quarter. Well done to all who participated so far!

We are also proud of our TMDP Ryan Dunleavy who won the Rising Star award at the iNUA Christmas conference and as Ryan embarks into his third year of the course, we are excited to be introducing him to even more management skills and techniques for becoming the GM of the future.

Congratulations to Steffy Pelissier, Laurent Jeremie & Petra Savy who graduated this month with a Bachelor of Business Studies in International Hotel Management from Shannon College of Hotel Management in association with the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) – we are so proud of your achievement and your time with us at Radisson Blu, Cork!

Finally, our collaboration with CCI Maineet-Loire Formation and their Erasmus+ apprentice programme, the MONA Project, was an overwhelming success. Our apprentice Corentin Crossay spent 2 months with us working throughout the kitchen and completing multiple technical challenges and menu tastings which were graded and contributed to him graduating the programme.This is an exciting time for us as we look to the future of European apprentices and developing the professionals of tomorrow, included are photos of his time at the Hotel and then his graduation with the programme leaders in France!

We have another packed year ahead and a lot of good work to build on!

Corentin Crossay from the MONA Project

Team Appreciation

For our Valentine’s Day Team Event we shared appreciation for our fellow team members as a thank you. A snippet below of the lovely comments:

“Thank you, team Belfast, for being one big family. Always there to lend an ear and support each other”

“Desi, Thanks for all the AMAZING Sunday dinners!”

Helping our Community

Finally, information in relation to our charity partnership with Downs syndrome association- we have a raffle to win Gerry the giraffe with lots of other prizes and we are participating in the lots of socks initiative. To launch our partnership, we are hosting a free tea & coffee morning on 21st March at 10-12noon, with a raffle and all donations going to downs syndrome associatio

Awards

We held our town hall on 6th March & announced our Employee of the month - January - Andrei PascariuHousekeeping- for living our iNUA values Growth & Passion- Andrei is often found supporting other departments, whilst always wanting to learn and improve himself. We are so delighted to have him as part of our team.

February- Kerrie McAllister - Reservations departmentfor living our iNUA value passion, she has consistently gone above and beyond this month, creating party bags for a hen party which wasn’t even requested adding to our guest experience. She has also built good relations with our clients as some often ask for her by name.

Kerrie McAllister, Reservations Department

Joe Shannon Tribute

It was with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to our beloved work colleague and friend Joe. Joe started his journey in the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa in June 2005, 1 year after the hotel opened. To say Joe was the heart beat of the hotel and the head of the work family is an understatement. When Joe was on duty his laughter reverberated throughout the hotel with joy and happiness. Joe’s positivity was infectious to anyone who came in contact with him. You could always find Joe in the bar having a cup of tea sharing

his knowledge and one of his many hysterical stories with our guests. He was an advocate for his work colleagues, the hotel, the culinary arts and his home county and town Sligo. Outside of the hotel Joe was a true gentleman, a proud father, grandfather, loving husband and took the time to raise much needed funds for local charities.

Joe was born in Coventry in the UK from Irish Parents; his father Mick was from Fermanagh and his mother Mary from Ballina. They moved back to Ireland in the 1970’s settling first in Ballina, then moving to Enniscrone, West Sligo. Joe discovered a “secret” food history in his family when he discovered his great grandmother was Head Chef in Florencecourt

House, in Fermanagh. Making chips was Joe’s first job and earned a mere £6 a week from this job! Joe being the determined and ambitious character he was rose to great heights working in high end hotels in England, Europe, did a stint in Bermuda and had amazing experiences cooking in the Middle East. One memorable dinner he oversaw was cooking for Hilary Clinton as guest of honour and Joe put his stamp on it serving up Nettle Soup! His media career started with TV3’s Ireland AM and was the longest standing Chef on the show as he was on it for 18 years.

Joe was an outstanding ambassador for the hotel and wider tourism & hospitality industry. He was instrumental in nurturing and growing the business the hotel has today and guests adored him. Seamus Preston who worked with Joe closely for 10 years remembers Joe fondly “We will never meet such a positive, funny and clever man and feel blessed to have the pleasure of working with him”.

One final quote from Joe “sure I am just a simple chef” but to us he will always be so much more.

Sleep tight Joe and Rest in Peace

Awards

Following on from the success of the introduction of our Sensory Bedroom in 2018 we were delighted to be awarded a very prestigious “AsIAm” Autism Friendly Accreditation this month. This was 18 months in the making and involved all our staff undergoing sensory training, the introduction of a sensory map and social story, and AsIAm Sensory awareness is also included in our Hotel Induction Programme. We are the first hotel in the Northwest to receive this award and will be launching our Wellness & Sensory Trail on the 30th April 2024.

We were thrilled to be recently short listed as one of 3 finalists in the Sligo Chamber of Commerce Net Zero Business Excellence Awards. Well done to our Maintenance Manager Declan Cunningham and his team for all their great work!

Employee of the Year

Congratulations to our Employee of the Year Pete Greaney! With a heart as big as his arms, Pete exemplifies the ‘Yes I can attitude.’ No task is too daunting or too small for him—he’s the textbook example of dedication and reliability. In moments of crisis, Pete is the unwavering pillar we can always count on. We are lucky and proud to have such an outstanding team player in our midst!

We were honoured to be again nominated for the Weddings Online “Best Wedding Co-ordinator” and “Best Venue” in Connaught. Denise and her team continue to shine.

We have again received our award for Employer Excellence from Failte Ireland and of course and were lucky to have Pete nominated for the IHF Employee of the year also.

Welcome to out two new commis Chefs – Evan and Evan from the prestigious L’Hermitage in France; they are looking forward to sponsoring Sligo DSI at their Sea Dip this month.

Recently, we were lucky to host the Sligo Bay RNLI Gala Ball with over 350 attendees where the Hotel showcased our reputation for Hospitality to the wider Sligo Community.

Sligo Chamber of Commerce

Colleague Appreciation

On International Women’s Day, we extended our gratitude to some of the unsung heroes who bring the magic to life within our hotel. Their passion is so often the driving force behind the impeccable service and warm hospitality that our guests cherish. We extend our appreciation to the women in hospitality who pour their dedication into every detail, transforming moments into memories and ensuring that our guests feel not just welcomed, but truly at home.

Employee of the Year

Warm congratulations to our esteemed colleague Abey Gnanaratne who won the award for 2023 Employee of the Year at Kilkenny Hibernian. Since joining us as Chef de Parti in September 2022 from Sri Lanka, Abey has consistently worn a contagious smile, fostering a warm environment for both guests and colleagues. His unwavering dedication, willingness to assist, and commitment to going the extra mile truly set him apart. Congratulations Abey on this well-deserved award.

Huge congratulations to Krysia Adamus who recently celebrated 15 years at Kilkenny Hibernian! To have such dedicated colleagues who go above and beyond is a blessing and we feel very lucky to have Krysia’s dedication and loyalty.

Another well deserved congratulations to Sophie Brett who just reached the 5-year mark with our team!

We would also like to wish a special congratulations to our Senior Chef Michael Burns who took part in the Senior Cliste Culinary Chef Competition. Michael showcased an exquisite

plant-based interpretation of a Middle Eastern Celebratory dish fitting nicely with the ‘Trends and Sustainability’ theme. We are honoured to have Michael and his talent as a part of our team.

Magdalena Stachon Accounts Department

Sophie Brett Restaurant & Bar Supervisor

Caitlin McKnight Food & Beverage Supervisor

Agnieszka Hyland Duty Manager

Meighean Furlong Food & Beverage Team

Aleksandra Swist-Kucharczyk Front Office Supervisor

F&B Highlights

iNUA HOSPITALITY

Hibernian Hotel, Kilkenny

We are working on an exciting new Restaurant concept in Kilkenny Hibernian, with a new name to be announced soon. The concept is based around Fire Cooking in an Authentic Braai Oven Grill which is has it origins in South Africa.

We will be able select particular lump wood to give the food a distinct flavour. Seafood will have a clear place on the menu, and the design will be modern, rustic

and cosy. We have engaged a local Kilkenny designer to recreate the space, but we’re not giving too much away just yet!

“So excited to bring a Braai Grill into my kitchen here in Ireland, being from South Africa this very special. The menu I have devised with Frank will be a fresh new offering in Kilkenny” -Wesley Bearpark, Head Chef

“The team and I are really excited to bring this project to life. We have been collaborating with Paul Mitchell and Frank Askin on this project and can’t wait to launch to the Kilkenny market”

Andrew Lambert, General Manager

New Pergola Look for Radisson Blu, Athlone

We are taking the completed structure, softening and enhancing its appeal as a place to eat and drink up to 10 months of the year. We are adding some tasteful new furniture, new lighting, and greenery to create a beautiful and unique setting for all family occasions, that overlooks the majestic River Shannon.

A new menu concept is in design to complement the overall area.

“I’m excited to see the project taking shape. The interior finish that has been chosen is very impressive. The Terrace and Pergola offer a distinctive experience in Athlone, boasting breathtaking views of the stunning River Shannon and situated right on the new Greenway bridge”, Fergus O’Donovan, GM

INNOVATION

Welcome to 2024 Innovation & Leadership Team

2024 is already shaping up to be a big year for Innovation, with some large projects getting underway this Spring, and as always a diverse range of smaller initiatives in the pipeline and being implemented throughout the year, with our focus ever on our strategy of revenue generation, cost savings, and guest experience.

We have had some recent changes within our Innovation Leadership Team, with the introduction of new team members and the departure of others.

Welcome aboard to our newest team members!

Idea of the Quarter

Hillgrove Hotel Ice Cream Bicycle Packages

Leader: Dean Coyne

Hillgrove Hotel’s newest innovation idea is arriving at the end of March, with its first outing at an April 20th wedding – introducing Hillgrove Hotel’s Ice Cream Bicycle.

Key features

The Classic No. 33 Pashley Bike showcasing Hillgrove branding on the frame, comes complete with a sun parasol, rear mounted wicker basket, and front mounted freezer. While primarily intended for Ice Cream, other uses can include:

-Coffee and cold drinks

-Popcorn & Candy Floss

-Confectionery

-Sandwich/Canapes

Outside of weddings, the bicycle can be offered for corporate events, family celebrations and Day 2s, as a novelty upsell.

2024 Bumper Projections

We have already sold 23 wedding packages in the past 4 weeks, gaining €10,250 additional revenue. Our target is 55 wedding packages throughout 2024, aiming for €10K net profit, ROI within Year 1.

The details: The Pashley bicycle costs approx. €2K net, with the freezer sourced from Bunzl at a cost of €1.8K net. Total Capex investment €3.8K – not including ice cream and accessories costs. A great investment opportunity with a strong return.

If you are interested in securing a Pashley Event Bicycle contact a.coughlan@clistehospitality for more information.

Maree O’ Brien, Tullamore Court Hotel

Jacqueline Berry Radisson Blu Athlone

Ornella Saib Muckross Park Hotel

Dagmar Salzwedel Radisson Blu Limerick

Stephen Brennan Springfield Hotel

1.

Innovation Alumni

Sincere thanks to Aideen O’ Flynn for her achievements with Innovation over the past 2 years.

Best wishes to Gillian Deedigan, who is transitioning from her position in Limerick to undertake a new role as Hotel Manager.

Much gratitude to David Vaughey in Dublin One who is moving on to a new role in April 2024. Read on for an insight into David’s reflections on his leadership tenure.

From the Innovation Team – thank you to our outgoing members for your dedication and contributions to creating and stabilizing a culture of innovation across the iNUA Collection.

DUBL!N ONE Innovation Leader

David Vaughey

I joined the Innovation Team in 2022 as part of the pioneering cohort of innovation leaders across our hotels, led by David Jordan. While the new role posed challenges in balancing it with my daily responsibilities, it also offered significant opportunities for personal and professional growth, along with skill development.

In November 2022, I participated in an Innovation Group Workshop where we assessed our thinking preferences using the Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI). This workshop equipped our team with skills in idea generation, expansive and reductive innovation thinking, as well as the design thinking process. These skills proved invaluable in facilitating brainstorming sessions at the hotel and devising implementation plans.

My tenure as Innovation Leader significantly sharpened my business acumen. I enhanced various skills in Excel, mastered P&L analysis, and learned to conduct detailed costing exercises for ROI evaluations. These skills were crucial in accurately assessing both net and gross profits, directly contributing to more financially sound decision-making. Additionally, exposure and networking opportunities as an innovation leader at both group and external events bolstered my professional profile on platforms like LinkedIn.

Embracing the role of an Innovation Leader encouraged me to embrace new ideas and experimentation, and not to be discouraged but learn from failures, refining ideas to achieve better outcomes.

As I transition away from my role at Dublin One, my commitment to fostering innovation across our group remains steadfast. My experiences have equipped me with a creative toolkit for driving revenues and working smarter, underpinned by a strong foundation in both innovative thinking and commercial strategy.

Interested in Becoming an Innovation Team Member or Leader?

We’re looking for team members keen on exploring innovative ideas and leading change. If you’re passionate about making a difference and ready for a new challenge, let’s chat.

Get in Touch to Learn More

Reach out to express your interest to a.coughlan@clistehospitality.ie.

Innovation Projects 1 2

In January, Innovation Leaders and their teams addressed challenges identified by the senior leadership team, developing comprehensive business proposals for high-impact ideas slated for 2024 implementation. These plans included budgeting, sales projections, return on investment analyses, SWOT & competitor analyses, supplier research, and project timelines. As a result, we’ve secured budget and support for four proposals, while the remainder are ‘shelf-ready’ for review and potential 2025 reconsideration.

Muckross Park Hotel & Spa, Spa Enhancement Seaweed Baths & Decking Expansion

Project Leader: Ornella Saib

Our Business Proposal outlined an investment of €35K to introduce 2 outdoor seaweed baths, enhancing our Spa offering, creating a new revenue stream unique to the hotel and the Killarney area.

Key Features

• Unique Seaweed Baths in an idyllic location

• All-Inclusive Packages & Upsells

• Hands-free, no therapist required

• Sustainability in action, repurposing the seaweed as fertilizer

June is our target launch date, anticipating an ROI by Year 2, with projected sales of 35K in the first year.

Expanding Our Horizons

Our Seaweed Bath success will pave the way to further spa upgrades, such as outdoor riverbed relaxation space, sauna & plunge pool installation, and repurposing underutilized spaces for silent relaxation areas.

Radisson Blu Limerick’s Introduction of The Well System Wave Touch

Project Leader: Gillian Deedigan

With a €43K investment, we’ll introduce the WellSystem Dry Wave Massage, a pioneering touchless technology to elevate our Spa treatments and enhance guest experiences. This initiative further solidifies our commitment to enhancing guest satisfaction, addressing operational challenges creatively, and embracing new technologies.

Key Features of the WellSystem Dry Wave Massage:

• Ease of Installation: plug-and-play

• Personalized Massage Experience

• Infra-red Technology

• Hands-free; no therapist required

Transformative Benefits

The innovative dry water massage system uses highpressure water jets over a warm waterbed to deliver a comprehensive, head-to-toe massage. Guests remain dry and comfortable, enjoying benefits like improved circulation, reduced muscle tension, and deep relaxation.

Strategic Implementation

June is the target for launch, with a project plan including comprehensive marketing to ensure its success. We project a gross profit of €17K in the first year, with anticipated ROI by Year 2.

4 3

The iNUA Collection:

AsIAm Group Autism Friendly Accreditation

Project Leader: Anita Coughlan

Building on Radisson Sligo’s success in gaining their AsIAm Autism Friendly Accreditation in March, we are committing to achieving accreditation in all properties across the iNUA Collection by March 2025.

Huge congratulations to Paula Scallon and the Sligo team in achieving this accreditation. Their dedicated efforts, including team training, sensory map development, and social story creation for the hotel website, exemplify our commitment to inclusivity and progress as a group. The upcoming launch of their Sensory & Wellness Trail on April 30th further exemplifies their hard work.

With each property investing €2.3K across training and development, benefits of gaining accreditation include:

• Positive PR and brand exposure.

• Collaboration with AsIAm, strong SM presence

• USP: first Irish hotel group with full accreditation

• Enhanced guest experiences

AsIAm will assist iNUA in implementing the program through:

• Two training sessions per location.

• Sensory accessibility audits with feedback reports

• Guidance in developing Sensory Maps/Stories

• Annual AsIAm refresher training sessions

AsIAm, Ireland’s National Autism Charity, leads in promoting societal transformation for autistic individuals through inclusivity, advocacy, and empathy. For more information, visit AsIAm’s website.

Hibernian Hotel Suite & Basement Renovation

This proposal outlines an ambitious renovation project at the Hibernian Hotel in Kilkenny, aimed at expanding and enhancing its offerings. The key innovations of the project include:

1. Room Expansion: Submitting planning permission to convert 3 office spaces and 2 suites into 5 double bedrooms, relocating the offices to the basement. This will expand the hotel’s capacity from 46 to 51 bedrooms.

2. Coffee Unit Development: Transforming the current smoking area into an independent coffee shop with its own street entrance, offering a unique, standalone experience for guests and the public, and diversifying the hotel’s amenities.

3. Staff Facility Enhancement: Upgrading the staff facilities and the canteen in the basement to improve working conditions for employees and enhance the hotel’s operational efficiency.

This project represents a strategic enhancement of the Hibernian Hotel’s infrastructure, promising to elevate the guest experience, increase accommodation capacity, and introduce a new revenue stream through the coffee unit. The renovation reflects the hotel’s commitment to innovation, guest satisfaction, and employee welfare.

COMMERCIAL / SALES

The iNUA Sales Team

Driving MICE, Corporate, Golf & Domestic Business

The 5th Annual iNUA Collection Conference Organisers Familiarisation Trip

17th February

The showpiece event brought together over 70 of our key conference bookers with a potential to bring in large revenue and was supported by each of our sales team members across the Collection.

The weekend started with a lunch in the spectacular 13th floor Rooftop Restaurant at The Gateway Hotel and was followed by an in-depth tour of their versatile facilities.

iNUA Sales Business Update 2024 Highlights!

• Group Tele sales blitz 28th March, Springfield Hotel. Targeted 400 telesales.

• Easter Hamper Corporate Drop to DMC & PCO & local hotels.

• Dublin Sales Blitz coming up 15th & 16th April, targeting Business Groups & Transient Corporate and Conference accounts.

• Push on new corporate accounts for hotels, sports teams business, corporate BBQ events, social dining events, 2024-2025 concerts, corporate Christmas party groups.

• Building our 2025 residential Conference Pipeline.

Out & About at B2B Events flying the iNUA Hotel Collection MICE flag

St. Patrick’s Day MICE buyers events in London and Manchester

The Group were then brought to the picturesque village of Carlingford to enjoy an afternoon of sightseeing by bike and a historical walking tour.

The weekend culminated in a fabulous evening at The Fairways Hotel where guests were treated to a Gala Dinner and entertainment.

• DBF UK MICE buyers Workshop

• SITE Ireland Networking event, Dublin

• Callow Events “Breakfast & Learn” event with Danielle from The Gasworks Hotel, Belfast

The “50 Plus” Show, RDS Dublin

“Sen10” discount code was the buzz word at the 50 Plus Show which took place in the RDS on 14th & 15th March.

Siobhan, Sharon, Joanne and Berni from the Sales Team were flying the flag on behalf of the iNUA Collection.

Failte Ireland Golf Northern Ireland, Societies Event

Paula Scallon and Siobhan McTigue were delighted to represent the group at the Failte Ireland Golf Societies Event held in Belfast on 21st February. Over 40 of Ireland’s Leading Golf Providers gathered so they were in great company.

Northern Ireland’s Golf enthusiasts were out in force, and they helped

There was great excitement and interaction at our stand to enter the competition for a two-night mini break which moved to a digital platform for the first time and received more than 400 entries.

To incentivise pots of iNUA Jelly Babies went down a treat with visitors. A very worthwhile consumer event and we look forward to the Cork Show at the Raddison Cork Little Island in September.

create a really busy night of golf, bookings and fun! Paula and Siobhan were delighted to promote our 2024 golf societies rates and network hard. We are also delighted the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Sligo are the chosen venue to host the prestigious IGTOA Conference and Awards Night in Sligo this October.

The Gasworks Hotel “Bring Back Our Business” Day - 12th March

Congratulations to Kerry, Zara, Bronagh, Seaneain and Danielle on their first BBOB day in 2024. Over 50 B2B client calls were made, generating new revenue. Lots of

The iNUA Collection Annual Trade Lunch

Dublin

Over 60 clients joined the iNUA Sales and Revenue Management team for the annual Tour Operators, Destination Management Company & Professional Conference

Organisers Lunch at Fallon & Byrne in Dublin February 2nd. Lots of positivity around the 2025/25 season!

excitement from clients old and new on the refurbishment programme and moving to the voco brand over the Summer.

The iNUA Collection Launches a new sustainability initiative, supporting biodiversity at Dunsany Castle Nature Reserve

With a view to positively impacting Ireland’s natural heritage and biodiversity and to assist in expanding the country’s ancient woodlands, The iNUA Collection begins a new partnership with Irish Trees at Dunsany Castle Nature Reserve.

As part of their ongoing commitment to sustainable practices, the first initiative will come from Tullamore Court Hotel, which has arranged to plant over 3,500 Native Irish trees, including alder, birch, oak, willow, Rowan and Scots Pine, over the next five years through its partnership with Irish Trees at Dunsany, with the initiative to be rolled out across The iNUA Collection’s hotel portfolio.

Operational Highlights

iNUA HOSPITALITY

Refurbishment of the Springfield Hotel

Sean O’Keeffe General Manager, Springfield Hotel

We are thrilled to announce the remarkable transformation that has taken place at the Springfield Hotel over the past few months. Virtually every aspect of the hotel has undergone extensive refurbishment, elevating our establishment to a new level of sophistication and providing our guests, both new and returning, with an exceptional experience.

Our journey began in May when we partnered with Mike Holland from Corbwell Design to conceptualize a contemporary design for all 56 bedrooms,

2 Suites, the Ballroom, 3 Meeting Rooms, Reception Foyer, and the Bar and Restaurant. Mike’s expertise proved invaluable as he guided us through the process, ensuring that our vision remained on-trend while adhering to budgetary constraints and project timelines.

The renovation unfolded in stages, commencing with the transformation of the 3 Meeting Rooms, Reception, and Foyer in June. This phase involved a complete overhaul of colour schemes and textures, with upgrades to flooring, walls, lighting, and artwork.

In September, our focus shifted to the Ballroom, where we implemented modernization initiatives to enhance its appeal. The installation of three large bespoke Copper Chandeliers served as a striking centrepiece, setting the tone for the room’s ambiance. Updates to wall coverings, curtains, and flooring further revitalized the space.

The crowning achievement came with the completion of the new “Rye Bar & Restaurant,” a project that involved extensive renovations, including temporary closure for three weeks. The result is a dramatic transformation, offering guests a contemporary dining experience complemented by a brandnew carvery area that accommodates up to 300 covers on peak days.

Our commitment to excellence continued with the renovation of all 58 bedrooms, which commenced in September and concluded just after Christmas. Every aspect of the rooms underwent a comprehensive makeover, resulting in a modern, four-star standard that surpasses industry benchmarks.

Overall, the enhancements to our hotel product have garnered rave reviews and enthusiastic feedback from our guests, with one repeat guest commenting they were in awe that the hotel was unrecognisable! We are proud of the remarkable transformation achieved and look forward to welcoming guests to experience our newly reimagined Springfield Hotel.

Chef’s Meeting

We held our first culinary meeting of 2024 in Leixlip in early March. Great to see all the culinary leads coming together – our long established as well as new members including Barry Liscombe, James Bell & Jonathan Fearon. Perfect platform to network discussing the upcoming exciting F&B concepts within the group, trends, technology & sustainability. Topics covered on the day were Smart Culinary Operations, Procurement & Smart Scheduling. So much more than just talking all day about food!

We all enjoyed a Vegan Lunch supplied by Plantit Food - an Irish start-up company of recent years specialized in Irish Comfort food, all Vegan based plant ingredients. Amazingly even the Thai (fish) Cakes tasted as they would have been made with Fish? No surprise they are supplying globally now.

Looking at our environment we invited VITO for a demonstration of their innovative oil filtration system, easy & safe to use at any time while reducing the oil wastage & consumption by 44%; and Soaktech, a decarbonising service provider who is collecting the waste water from their units, reducing grease and other contaminants entering our water system. We all have to do as much as possible for our environment.

Radisson Blu to Gasworks to voco

Robin Laird – General Manager

My team and I were hugely excited when we first heard that Cliste Hospitality were purchasing the hotel, and we would become part of The iNUA Collection. The property needed significant investment and upgrading and to hear that Cliste were considering the purchase and re-branding of the hotel was a huge relief to us all.

It has been a whirlwind journey since that initial take over day where the property was quickly rebranded from a Radisson Blu Hotel to its temporary brand ‘The Gasworks Hotel’.

each hotel and location, they are united by voco’s unique character and style. With voco you can embrace

the local feel, personal touches and laid-back attitude to create moments you’ll remember long after checkout.

We are in the process of moving to the ultra-cool lifestyle brand ‘voco’ part of the IHG collection. The challenge was the property needed a full refurbishment and upgrade before the ‘voco’ brand could go above the door.

voco means ‘to invite’ and ‘call together’ originating from Latin, representing a thoughtful, unstuffy and charming nature. While the destinations celebrate the individualism of

We are working hard with the Cliste project team and our interior designers to get the property ready for the voco brand and are aiming to have this transition completed by the 1st July this year. Veronica has been a huge support to the team here and we already have a sample room completed and have commenced floor by floor refurbishment plans to upgrade our 120 bedrooms. Once that is complete, we will transform the ground floor into a stunning new social and dining venue.

My team and I look forward to welcoming you all to Belfast soon to see our sparkling new property and the new voco brand in the heart of Belfast City.

Vito Oil Filtration

Sustainability

iNUA HOSPITALITY

ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. It refers to a set of criteria that we as hospitality managers consider when evaluating the sustainability and ethical impact of our hotel operations.

Environmental

this assess our impact on the environment. This includes factors such as energy efficiency, carbon footprint, pollution, waste management, and natural resource conservation. Social

evaluates our companies’ relationships with its employees, customers, suppliers, and the communities in which it operates. This can involve issues like labour practices, diversity and inclusion, human rights, community development, and customer satisfaction. Our ‘I am able’ partnership with Down Syndrome Ireland is a key part of our social strategy.

Governance

focuses on the systems and structures that govern our business. This includes aspects such as corporate governance by our senior leadership team and plc board, board diversity, executive compensation, transparency, ethics, and adherence to regulations. Simply put, are we doing the right thing.

Our ESG strategy outlines our hotels efforts to minimize their environmental impact, promote social responsibility, and uphold ethical business practices.

This policy typically includes strategies for energy and water conservation, waste management, community engagement, employee welfare, diversity, equity, and ethical governance practices. Essentially, it’s a roadmap for the hotels efforts to operate sustainably and responsibly.

Fáilte Ireland Partnership Pathway to 45% Carbon Reduction

Our group partnership with Fáilte Ireland announced early November 2023, aims to reduce our carbon footprint by 45% by the year 2023.

We have completed detailed ‘carbon calculations’ for all hotels in the group for 2023 and now have a very clear picture as to what our carbon footprint is.

THE iNUA Collection ESG Statement

Our ESG strategy is built on 3 core pillars: People, Planet and Community. We place our people at the heart of our business and are training and upskilling our teams to reduce carbon emissions across our group. Our partnership with Fáilte Ireland as an integral part of their ‘Pathway to 45%’ project will assist us to reduce our carbon footprint by 45% by 2030.

Since 2019, we have reduced our carbon footprint by an impressive 20%. Starting with 2023 as our baseline, we have committed to a 10% reduction in 2024, 15% reduction in 2025 and then, through investment in renewable energy sources and key partnerships to reduce overall by 45% in 2030. To assist us on our journey, we will adopt ISO 50001 across our business by 2025 and continue on our pathway to net zero ensuring we use the planet; and leave the plant in a responsible place for future generations. Our commitment extends beyond environmental sustainability, as we are also actively engaged in supporting schools and education programs, fostering a brighter future for our communities and supporting local initiatives and charities to achieve their goals through financial support, strategic partnerships and initiatives. Governance is provided by our senior leadership team, our plc board of directors, our hotel owners and partners and our risk management team.

This is a very valuable starting point, from here we can focus on reducing our carbon footprint across our business, focusing on the key pillars of energy, waste and water.

Chris Austin our Group Director of Operations recently featured in a promotional video for Fáilte Ireland. If you would like to watch the video, it is available by scanning the QR code.