Guestline, An Access Company, Connect Ireland 2024: Empowering Connections – The Key to Success in Hospitality
Thursday, 28th November 2024 – Guinness Storehouse, Dublin
We are thrilled to announce the return of Connect Ireland, Guestline’s flagship event, taking place at the iconic Guinness Storehouse in Dublin on Thursday, 28th November 2024. Set against the backdrop of Ireland’s most visited tourist attraction, this year’s theme, Empowering Connections: The Key to Success in Hospitality, will bring together hoteliers, industry leaders, and experts to explore the importance of human connection in shaping the future of hospitality.
Connect Ireland 2024
This year’s Connect Ireland event comes at a crucial time for the hospitality sector, particularly following the recent budget decision to maintain the VAT rate at 13.5%. This ruling has added further stress to hoteliers already struggling with the fallout from rising costs, inflation, minimum wage increases, and impossible recruitment and retention challenges.
Connect Ireland 2024 will tackle the pressing challenges facing today’s hospitality industry by offering actionable strategies to help you and your hotel to navigate turbulent times while building a stronger sense of community with your staff, guests and industry partners. Taking place just before the prestigious IHI Hospitality Management Awards, this year’s event will emphasise the critical role of human connection and collaboration. How can we forge stronger relationships between management and its frontline teams? How can we exceed guest expectations in a digital landscape that demands both future proofing and personal touch? And how do we ensure our industry stays connected, resilient, and people-centred for now and into the future?
Here’s what you can expect: From a welcome address by Clio O’Gara (Country Manager Ireland at Guestline) and James Cannon (Sales & Marketing Director at Guestline), to the last panel discussion of the session, the day is designed to inspire and empower hospitality professionals with a packed agenda of dynamic presentations, expert talks, thought-provoking panel discussions and expert-led sessions that focus on those very real, everyday challenges and opportunities.
Key Highlights Include:
- An Introduction to Access Accommodation
- Champa Magesh, Managing Director of Access Hospitality, will introduce Access Accommodation and offer insights into what this exciting development means for Irish hotels. Discover how Access Accommodation can help empower your teams and enhance guest relationships, all whilst keeping human connection at the forefront.
- Exploring Key Trends in Irish Hospitality
- This expert panel, moderated by James Cannon, brings together key figures from hospitality associations and media. The IHI, McKenna Hospitality and Hotel & Restaurant Times will explore the latest trends and pressing challenges facing the Irish hospitality sector and discuss how collaboration and innovation can help the industry thrive.
- The Power of a Single Guest View – Panel Discussion
- With an overwhelming number of technology solutions available, how can hotels create a cohesive, personalised guest experience? This discussion, moderated by Clio O’Gara, features insights from William Barry (ResDiary), Nicola Rhone and Steve Collins from SHR. The panel will explore how a unified view of each guest can lead to better service and loyalty by empowering staff to make informed decisions.
- Expert Opinion: AI in Hotels – Replacing People or Empowering Them?
- Brian Clarke, co-founder of CONVIO AI, will lead this thought-provoking opinion on AI’s impact on hospitality. As technology increasingly impacts our sector, Brian will discuss how AI can serve as a powerful tool to empower staff rather than replace them and be useful in enhancing guest experiences without sacrificing that personal connection that guests expect.
- Uncovering Hidden Revenue from Within Your Hotel – Panel Discussion
- Moderated by Clio O’Gara, this session will explore how to unlock new revenue streams from within your hotel. Panellists, including representatives from The Hotels Network, Wedding Dates, Revinsta and Right Revenue, will share strategies to maximise revenue while keeping guest satisfaction at the heart of every decision.
At the core of every successful hotel is the strength of its connections—between management and staff, between staff and guests, and between the business and its wider community. This year’s Connect Ireland will explore how fostering these connections can lead to much higher retention, greater guest satisfaction, and ultimately, a more successful and happier hotel.
By attending this year’s Connect Ireland event, you will:
- Gain insights into how empowering connections with your staff and guests ensures long-term loyalty and success.
- Learn about the latest trends and tech that can enhance the experience for your guests, whilst strengthening and streamline your operations.
- Explore new and innovative ways to diversify your revenue which will help your hotel to stay competitive in the busy hospitality market
In addition to those forementioned, we will also be joined on the day by an array of esteemed partners, contributors and Guestline sister brands who will be on-site, sharing their expertise and collaborating with attendees throughout the event. These include Revinsta, SHR, ResDiary, Rotaready, Trail, Access EPoS, Newbridge, Procure Wizard and Access CPL.
Register today to secure your place at Connect Ireland 2024, held at the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin on Thursday, 28th November 2024, 9:30am – 3:30pm (complimentary lunch included).
Join us in Empowering Connections that will shape the future of Irish hospitality.
We look forward to seeing you there! Spaces are limited to 80, so please register to avoid disappointment.
