Declan Heneghan, General Manager of Knock House Hotel has been elected Chair of the Mayo Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), which represents hotels and guesthouses across the county
A career hotelier with over two decades of senior management and general management experience, Declan is no stranger to the hotel scene in Co. Mayo, having worked in management positions in a number of locations throughout the county and indeed the country. He has most recently taken up the position of General Manager at Knock House Hotel, a move which took him from Westport, where he was a founding member of the Westport Food Festival and an active member of Destination Westport. A graduate in hotel management from ATU (formerly GMIT) with a Masters degree in business from the University of Limerick, Declan has a keen focus on people management and in particular the value of continued professional development in complementing individuals’ skillsets and overall business strategy.
Commenting on his election as Branch Chair, he says: “It is a great honour to have been elected Chair of the Mayo Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation. Hotels and guesthouses throughout Mayo make such a vital contribution to local and regional tourism, which supports over 6,000 livelihoods having a positive impact and reach for small, medium and large communities within this diverse geographical county. I look forward to representing them and working closely with my IHF colleagues to engage with Government and industry partners to address the many challenges facing our industry, including the very high costs of doing business. This is an increasing concern and requires immediate action from the Government.
“On behalf of my colleagues and fellow hoteliers in Mayo, I wish to acknowledge and thank Darren Madden for his leadership and commitment throughout his tenure as Branch Chair over many years. Darren has provided an ever-present and a strong voice for hotels and guesthouses, continually advocating on behalf of our sector and wider tourism industry here in Mayo.”
IHF President Michael Magner says: “I want to congratulate Declan on his election. His commitment to our sector and extensive experience are a tremendous asset to the IHF as we continue to advocate for members at the highest levels of Government. The tourism and hospitality sector is Ireland’s largest indigenous employer, supporting over 270,000 livelihoods. It is therefore critical that the right conditions are in place to deliver a sustained recovery for our sector so that the wider tourism industry lives up to its full potential. I look forward to working with Declan during his term to deliver our key priorities in relation to economic growth, leadership in sustainability and supporting people development within our sector.”
