The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Top IHI honours go to IT Tralee
IT Tralee has scooped three awards at the prestigious Irish Hospitality Institute Founder’s Banquet and Hospitality Awards 2016 which took place in Dublin recently.
The IHI is a professional membership body that represents over 1,000 Hospitality Professionals throughout Ireland.
The first IT Tralee award was received by Mary Rose Stafford, Head of Department of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism who was awarded a Fellowship for her contribution to education in the Hospitality Industry. Lecturer Michael Crossan received the award of Hospitality Lecturer of the Year.
Ian Madden – a student from the college’s Trainee Management Development Programme – received an award for Graduate of the Year.
President of IT Tralee Dr Oliver Murphy congratulated the trio on their awards success.
“This is an outstanding achievement for the Institute and in the particular the Department of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism,” he said.
“The awards are testament to the dedication and pioneering work of the Department’s management, staff and students. These achievements further enhance IT Tralee as the destination of choice for anyone wishing to study or enhance their skills in the Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism sector,” Dr Murphy said.
Over 500 industry leaders including many of the IHI’s past Presidents who were formally recognised on the night were gathered together to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the IHI and recognise the personal contribution of individual hospitality professionals, with 150 applications received across the 12 award categories.
The judging process allows all IHI members to submit nominations, a panel of IHI judges made up of senior industry figures short-list the nominations, nominees then proceed to an interview stage where the judging panel base their final decision.
The winner of each award was announced at the gala event.