Looking back, a number of experiences, opportunities, and people have shaped my journey to becoming a Hotel Manager: • School Work Placement – My first taste of hospitality came through a school placement in a hotel. It gave me an early appreciation for the pace, teamwork, and guest service focus of the industry. • Part-Time Work in Private Hotels – While studying, I worked part-time in private hotels. These roles gave me grounding in customer service and operations, and built my confidence in handling responsibility at a young age.

• Fáilte Ireland Training – Completing structured training with Fáilte Ireland gave me the skills and professional outlook to see hospitality as a long-term career.
• GMIT Careers Fair – A turning point came at the GMIT careers fair, where I discovered the Leonardo Graduate Programme. After a rigorous application and assessment process, I was accepted — this decision launched my career with Leonardo Hotels.
• Leonardo Graduate Programme – My first step within Leonardo, this programme gave me broad exposure across departments and built a solid foundation for leadership.
• Leonardo Accelerate Programme – A two-year development pathway that prepared me to move from Head of Department into Deputy/Operations Manager roles, developing my commercial, people, and operational management skills.
• High Potential Programme – Another two-year programme that supported my transition from Deputy General Manager to Hotel Manager. Alongside this, I completed ILM professional certificates in Leadership and Management, gaining formal qualifications to match my practical experience.
• Career Progression – Over nine years, I have worked across 15 Leonardo Hotels in Ireland and the UK, overseen three refurbishments, and managed three hotel takeovers. My journey has taken me from graduate trainee, through leadership roles in Oxford, Christchurch, Galway, and across Ireland, to my promotion as Hotel Manager at Leonardo Derby in 2025.
• Mentors, Lecturers & Development Support – At every stage, I’ve benefited from the guidance of my college lecturers, the mentorship of managers I worked under, and the outstanding support of the Learning & Development team at Leonardo Hotels. T

heir coaching, expertise, and encouragement have been critical in shaping me into the leader I am today. My career has been built on a combination of hands-on experience, structured development programmes, and the invaluable support of mentors and colleagues — all of which have prepared me to lead with confidence and passion as a Hotel Manager.

College Lecturers – At GMIT, my lecturers provided both the academic knowledge and encouragement to see hospitality as a long-term career. Support and patience from my family and friends helped me get into the industry. They guided me to pursue opportunities like the Leonardo Graduate Programme, which launched my career.
• Early Managers in Private Hotels – While working part-time, I learned from managers who demonstrated strong work ethic, operational excellence, and people-first leadership. Their example taught me the importance of balancing guest experience with team support.
• Mentors within Leonardo Hotels – Throughout my progression, I’ve been fortunate to work under managers who coached and challenged me. Their guidance helped me take on bigger responsibilities and prepared me for leadership roles across multiple hotels.
• Learning & Development Team at Leonardo Hotels – The L&D team has been instrumental in my growth, supporting me through programmes like Accelerate and the High Potential Programme, and providing opportunities to build leadership, operational, and strategic skills.
• Networking & Industry Connections – Attending industry events, awards, and partner networking sessions has also been hugely influential. Meeting peers, learning from other hotel managers, and collaborating with industry partners broadened my perspective and inspired new ideas for running hotels effectively. These experiences collectively shaped my skills, mindset, and leadership style, helping me grow from a graduate trainee to Hotel Manager at Leonardo Derby, while always staying connected to the wider hospitality industry.

I first discovered Leonardo Hotels during a careers day at GMIT about nine years ago. At the time, I was working in private hotels, but when I learned about the Leonardo Graduate Programme, it really caught my attention. The programme sounded like a fantastic way to grow a career in hospitality while getting exposure to multiple areas of hotel operations. The application process was thorough — it included several interview stages and an in-person assessment centre. That experience alone gave me great insight into the professionalism and standards of Leonardo Hotels, and I knew it was the right path for me. I was successful in securing a place on the graduate programme and started my journey at Leonardo Parnell Street, Dublin.

From there, I progressed through several leadership roles across the UK and Ireland:
• Assistant Conference & Banqueting Manager – Leonardo Oxford
• Assistant Food & Beverage Manager – Leonardo Christchurch
• Front Office Manager – Leonardo Galway
• Project Deputy General Manager – supporting 5 Leonardo Hotels across Ireland

These roles gave me an incredible foundation in both the operational and people-management sides of hospitality. I also had the opportunity to oversee three hotel refurbishments and three hotel takeovers, gaining hands-on experience in change management and large-scale projects. In time, I was promoted to Interim Hotel Manager at Leonardo Christchurch, which allowed me to step up and prove myself in a senior leadership role. Most recently, in July 2025, I was promoted to Hotel Manager at Leonardo Derby, where I am now leading the team and continuing my journey with the company.

Over the past nine years, I’ve had the privilege of working across 15 Leonardo Hotels in Ireland and the UK, which has been both challenging and rewarding. What I love about this industry is that no two days are the same — you’re constantly learning, solving problems, and most importantly, working with people.

My day usually starts by greeting the team in the morning, checking in with department heads, and reviewing the morning reports to get a snapshot of occupancy, arrivals, and any immediate operational issues. I then review the pickup reports and follow up on anything that happened the previous day, ensuring smooth handovers between shifts. Throughout the day, I monitor guest reviews and respond where needed, while keeping a close eye on financial performance to make sure targets are on track. I also review any employee relations issues, monitor payroll, and provide guidance or support to my team wherever it’s needed.

A big part of the role is ensuring hotel standards and procedures are consistently followed, from housekeeping and front office operations to food & beverage and events. I spend time coaching and mentoring my management team, helping them solve problems, and making sure the hotel runs efficiently while maintaining a great guest experience. No two days are exactly the same, but the mix of people, operations, and strategy makes every day rewarding and keeps me learning constantly.

In school, I studied a mix of practical and academic subjects, including Home Economics, Technical Drawing, Woodwork, LCVP, Science, Irish, French, English, and Maths. Each of these has influenced my career in different ways: 
• Technical Drawing helped me develop spatial awareness and attention to detail, which I now use when looking at hotel layouts, elevations, and fire plans.
• Home Economics gave me a strong foundation in food safety, kitchen management, and practical organisation, which has been invaluable in food & beverage operations.
• Business-related subjects, including LCVP, Maths, and Science, developed my analytical thinking, problem-solving, and management skills, which are key in running a hotel successfully.
• Languages and communication subjects like English, Irish, and French have helped me communicate effectively with teams and guests from diverse backgrounds. All of these subjects combined to give me a broad skill set that prepared me for a career in hospitality management, where I use practical, analytical, and people skills every day.

Yes, definitely! Being a Hotel Manager is busy and varied, but Leonardo Hotels really supports a healthy work-life balance. I have a good level of flexibility in how I manage my time, which makes it easier to balance work and personal life.

On top of that, there are some fantastic perks that make the job even more rewarding:

                  • Employee rates and family & friends discounts on hotel stays, perfect for personal travel or special trips.

                  • Lots of opportunities to learn and develop, through structured programmes like Accelerate and High Potential, as well as ongoing training.

                  • Networking events with industry partners and peers, which are great for sharing ideas and growing professionally.

                  • Excellent benefits, including a pension scheme, well-being support, and life assurance.

All of this means I can fully enjoy my career while having a lifestyle I’m happy with — it’s a job that’s challenging, rewarding, and supportive both professionally and personally.