The accommodation sector is central to the tourism industry. Over a third of what tourists spend during their visit to Ireland is spent on their accommodation. High quality tourist accommodation provides significant benefits to the economy as local businesses such as restaurants, taxis, retail outlets and tourist attractions also benefit. People who work in this sector play a special role in ensuring that the tourist’s accommodation is comfortable, has high standards of cleanliness and is a welcoming place to stay.
There are a great variety of accommodation options available in Ireland to suit every budget. From luxury five-star resorts, country houses and medieval castles to family run bed and breakfasts, guesthouses, hostels and campsites. There is also a wide choice of self-catering apartments or private rooms available through online platforms, such as Airbnb. Many tourists enjoy the experience of a farmstay or unusual places such as lighthouses, barges or luxury glamping.
Working in this sector you will gain many transferable skills which can open up fantastic opportunities to work and travel overseas. They can also open up career opportunities as some multinational hotel chains can offer staff the chance to transfer to sister hotels in other countries.
Is this Sector for me?
People working in this sector enjoy meeting new people from different cultures, backgrounds and walks of life. Every day is different. Regardless of your role in the accommodation sector, it would involve extending an Irish céad míle fáilte, helping tourists to settle in and get the most out of their trip.
The accommodation sector offers a diverse range of working environments from large hotels to small to medium sized enterprises. The flexible hours involved in this sector, which could include weekends and evenings, make it ideal to balance study or family life.
Working in a busy environment, as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will find it very rewarding coming into contact with large numbers of people on a daily basis. This will help you to develop invaluable skills such as multitasking and problem solving. Some roles, such as accommodation assistant, may not involve as much customer contact, but nevertheless good social and customer service skills are essential for this sector. Language skills are also very useful to help understand and satisfy customers' needs.
What roles can I choose?
There are a wide range of jobs and careers at all levels in the accommodation sector. Many employees started their career as a part-time or summer job, gained experience and qualifications, progressing to management positions. This can take a number of years, but there is a great variety of courses available, not only full time, but also with part-time, online and flexible study options, to fit in with your lifestyle.
There is a great spread of jobs in the accommodation sector. Hotel Managers, receptionists, porters, accommodation managers and accommodation assistants, spring to mind.
However, there are many more jobs directly linked to the services hotels and accommodation providers offer. These include sales and marketing, event/conference management, wedding planners, bar and restaurant, spa manager, leisure facilities staff, golf instructors and greenkeepers and the essential role of maintenance staff. Other essential behind the scene roles include reservations staff, revenue manager and human resources.
Read about Megan’s role as a Receptionist or Áine’s as an HR, Purchasing & Green Manager. Check out what it is like to work as a Head Butler in a 5 star hotel. Whatever your interest the sector offers unrivalled opportunities to build your career from the ground up, retrain or upskill. A perfect example of this is Blaithaid’s fast track route to success as the Ride & Attractions Manager at Tayto Park with responsibility for 200 staff.
Begin your career journey today
It is both rewarding and challenging to work in the accommodation sector. Work experience offers you an excellent opportunity to get a taste of the sector. If you are keen to get started explore live jobs, where experience isn’t always necessary. You may prefer to go to college where there are a wide range of courses at different levels. Apprenticeships offer you the opportunity to earn and learn. A good place to start is a one year FET course in Hospitality with excellent links to a wide range of CAO courses in the industry.
Read about Megan’s role as a Receptionist or Áine’s as an HR, Purchasing & Green Manager. Check out what it is like to work as a Head Butler in a 5 star hotel. Whatever your interest the sector offers unrivalled opportunities to build your career from the ground up, retrain or upskill. A perfect example of this is Blaithaid’s fast track route to success as the Ride & Attractions Manager at Tayto Park with responsibility for 200 staff.