It is one thing to take on the task of managing the sales and marketing at one of Cork's top hotels, but, to take on this role for four very different hotels, all at the same time, is quite another thing. Still, that's exactly what Drogheda man Des Donnelly has done and four months into his new role he is finding the challenge is both exciting and fulfilling.

No stranger to the workings of the hospitality sector, Des took up the position of Sales and Marketing Manager with the Cork Luxury Hotels Group just over four months ago, having previously worked here in Cork with the Clarion Hotel. Previous to this, he had spent more than four years with Cork Swansea ferries, a role he describes as his first experience working in the hospitality sector, or the "floating hotel" industry as he puts it.

Donnelly's first introduction to the world of tourism and hospitality came not when he finished school, but while he was working with the Shannon Development Group in the mid 80s. Having spent more than ten years in the property sector and qualifying as a chartered surveyor, Des embarked on a career with the Shannon Development Group in the early 80s where he was charged with helping to drive forward the development of the Shannon area itself. Having spent a number of years in this role, when the opportunity arose to diversify his work and embark on a new phase in his career, Des jumped at the chance, taking a new position, which involved attracting tourism to the area. The change was one which not only pleased Des, but, gave him the drive to move away from what he knew best and lunge straight into the middle of Ireland's growing tourism industry, a decision he will never regret.

Des believes that the experience he gained over the years working in such diverse roles has lended him the ability not only to be able to adapt to change and move forward with the times but, to be able to address different aspects of his job from different angles. His experience with the Shannon Development Group in particular has helped him to gain a much better understanding of the broader tourism industry and allows him to look at the group, not just from a local viewpoint but, from a much larger perspective. This role clearly also gave him a much greater understanding of the hotels target markets, the needs and wants of domestic and international visitors and what the hotel group needs to do to achieve these needs.

While in his new role just over four months, Des has already had great success in his attempts to raise the profile of the Cork Luxury Hotel Group and its four hotels; The Ambassador on Military Hill, the Oriel House Leisure Club and Spa, Ballincollig, the WatersEdge Hotel, Cobh and the newly opened Charleville Park Hotel. He admits that while he has already achieved much in raising the profile of the group itself, much much more has to be done. He explains how each of the hotels has built its own reputation on its own merits and that the challenge for him lies not in promoting the individual hotels, but, in trying to consolidate the four and build up the Cork Luxury Hotel Group's name. He says that one of the ways he is trying to communicate this message is through the fact that the hotels all have the same owner and that each hotel, whether it be the modern Charleville Park or the established Ambassador, offers the same five star service its visitors are accustomed to.

"There is a difference in the marketing of the different hotels depending on their bedrooms, conference facilities or leisure facilities whether that is to the domestic or international markets or to the corporate or leisure client, but, one thing that is the same across the group is that each of the hotels has a great team and you will get the same great service in each of the four hotels," he said. Looking to the future, Des said that his core focus over the coming months and years will not only be to attract more and more customers to the groups hotels, but, to work on building the Cork Luxury Hotel Group's brand, so that when the time comes for any expansion, any additions to the group will become synonymous with the trusted reputations of the group's existing hotels.

Des Donnelly can be contacted on 021-420 8400/ This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Web: www.corkluxuryhotels.com.

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