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Brian Bowler.
THE Irish Hospitality Institute (IHI), the professional body for managers within the hospitality and tourism industry in Ireland has announce the appointment of Brian Bowler FIHI as the 29th President of the organisation.
A native of Kerry, he grew up in his family’s B&B in Dingle and he began his management career in Killarney and held senior management roles with prestigious hotel brands such as The Brehon, Carton House as well as Choice Hotels Ireland and The Great Southern Hotel group.
While in Kerry he was involved in the creation of the Kerry Tourism Strategy & Action Plan 2016 – 2022, the Kerry branch of the Irish Hotel Federation and was President of SKAL Kerry.
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He has been General Manager of one of Cork’s most iconic hotels, The Montenotte Hotel, since 2017. He is also Chair of Munster District and Deputy President of the Irish Hospitality Institute and is the first Kerry native to serve as President since the organisation was founded in 1966.
Following the announcement at the IHI annual general meeting, Brian stated; “In Ireland we have a well-earned global reputation for hospitality. I grew up in the industry and learned from some of the best hoteliers in Ireland so I know first-hand from a very early age that it is the people who make Irish hospitality world renowned. I am so proud and honoured to be leading the IHI in what will be a pivotal time for our industry and for our people. I hope to continue this legacy, to nurture the next generation of hospitality professionals, helping them flourish and deliver world class experiences, as we welcome guests through our doors once more.”
Brian added; “Throughout this crisis the IHI has been on the forefront of supporting our industry professionals, providing training and development opportunities and virtual networking sessions to stay connected with our members. As we transition back to full operations, we will continue to be central in supporting and connecting hospitality professionals, as we rebuild our industry and our people once again. Retention and recruitment of talent will be key to the future recovery of our industry.”
The main priority for Brian’s two-year Presidency term will be to focus on retention, the promotion and development of careers and continuous professional development of hospitality professionals.
