Speakers

Michael Magner is the 40th President of the Irish Hotels Federation, succeeding Denyse Campbell. A native of Kileedy, Co. Limerick, Mr Magner is owner of the historic Cork's Vienna Woods Hotel. He has studied Hotel Management and holds a masters degree in Business in HRM from the University of Limerick. He began his career in hospitality aged 16 in Newcastle West, Limerick, going on to work at the Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel in Adare. 

Michael has been an active branch member of the IHF since 2006 and has served as Chair of the Cork branch, a two-year term as National Vice President, and as a member of the National Council and Management Committee. He currently sits as Chair of Cobh Heritage Trust and a Director of the Board of Visit Cork. 

Dr. Myles Dungan is a writer, lecturer and broadcaster. He currently presents the weekly RTE Radio 1 programme and has worked as presenter of various RTE radio and TV programmes for  the last thirty years (Five Seven Live, Rattlebag, Prime Time). He is an Adjunct Lecturer in the UCD School of History, is the recipient of two Fulbright Awards. has taught Irish history in UCD, Trinity College and the University of California, Berkeley. In 2012 he received a PhD from Trinity College, Dublin. He is the author of more than a dozen books on Irish and American history.

Conall Mac Coille was appointed Chief Economist at Bank of Ireland last year. Prior to that Conall was Chief economist at Davy and has also worked at the Bank of England and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). Conall is a well-known commentator on Irish economic and financial market developments and is also author of the quarterly MyHome report on the Irish housing market.

Sarah departed Irish shores in 2005 having spent seven years in hotel operations. She joined the HotelBenchmark team at Deloitte in London as a Business Development Executive and as the team re-structured came to manage a number of key international clients.  STR Global was formed in 2008 following the merger of the HotelBenchmark team with The Bench and Smith Travel Research.  In 2016, the international family of companies united under one brand: STR.  As Director of Client Relationships, Sarah regularly attends and presents at hotel group and industry events.  She holds an Honours Degree in Translation from DCU.

Aiden is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has extensive experience working in the area of business advisory and corporate finance. For the past 28 years Aiden has produced the Ireland Annual Hotel Industry Survey which is the key benchmark document for the industry in Ireland. The report highlights trends, financial and marketing results and emerging issues of the hotel industry and for the tourism industry in general. Aiden has advised numerous business owners on acquisition and disposal planning including sale or acquisition of shares in hotel companies, value adding strategies through expansion of hotel activities, family company ownership transitions to the next generation, operational efficiencies and financial restructuring. He has extensive experience in strategic business reviews, business plan preparation and structured finance. He also advises hotels on the operational and valuation impacts of undertaking appropriate ESG initiatives that protect and enhance both the business and the asset value.

Mark Lynch (fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland) is an experienced CFO, having worked at senior level in hospitality finance for more than 30 years across a range of businesses from family-owned hotel groups to PLCs.

Mark is Executive Director of the Hotel Investment Fund (HIF), a €50m Fund established by the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) which provides a €50m commitment for investment in Irish Hotels.

A graduate in Hotel Management at Atlantic Technological University, Mary worked for over 15 years both at home and abroad before taking on the challenge of developing a much-needed hotel in Athy. This 45 bedroomed four-star family-owned hotel was established in 2005 and built on family farm land where Mary’s late father previously operated his racing stables and gallops. Despite many challenges it has flourished under Mary’s leadership, her dedication to hospitality, sustainability, and community over the past 19 years. The Clanard Court has won many awards and expanded its offerings over the years and continues to look for novel and unique ways to expand and gain market share.  2023 was a year of extensive capital investment including a new plant room and biomass boiler, the introduction of “The Little White Chapel” for wedding ceremonies plus extensive renovations in public areas and bedrooms.  2024 is the year of solar panels and further renovations while 2025 and beyond will see the development of more bedrooms and recreation space. Mary has a passion for interior design, an expensive hobby when applied to a hotel environment!   

Colm is a long-standing, active member of the IHF and current Vice President having previously served as Chair of the South East Branch of the IHF and is a member of the IHF’s National Council and Management Committee. Colm is owner of the Riverside Park Hotel and the Crown Quarter Bar, Hotel & Restaurant complex in Wexford, and the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise. Colm also runs a building company mainly involved in new homes developments but which he has utilised to build a number of bedroom extensions at the Riverside Park Hotel as well as most recently building out the expanded Crown Quarter complex. He is a graduate of Bolton Street DIT having studied Quantity Surveying.  

Shane joined Dalata in March 2014 as Head of Strategy and Development and has been instrumental in driving the Company’s growth through acquisition and development activity in Ireland and the UK. He previously worked as Head of Development at Jurys Doyle Hotel Group plc and held senior positions with Ion Equity, Microsoft Europe and Musgrave Group. He is a graduate of University College Cork and Chartered Accountant.