THE THIRD DEGREE: From surviving the pandemic to earning a four-star rating

BY PAUL BRADLEY

In this week’s edition of The Third Degree Conor McEniff, General Manager of the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny talks about their new four-star rating, managing through the pandemic and how he is the third generation in his family to work in the industry.

Hi Conor, how are you? Thank you for taking the interview – could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi Paul, very well thanks for having me. I grew up in Letterkenny attending St Eunan’s College and studied International Hospitality Management in DIT Cathal Brugha Street in Dublin. I subsequently enjoyed two years living and working in New York. I’ve been living back home since the beginning of Covid managing the Mount Errigal Hotel.

Congratulations on earning the four-star rating for the Mount Errigal. What was involved in that, and how long had you been aiming for it?

Thanks very much. It involved a comprehensive evaluation of various aspects of the hotel’s amenities, services and overall guest experience. The evaluation process itself then involved site visits, mystery shoppers and customer reviews.
It had always been on my mind since I came home, we made a big push coming off the busy Summer season last year and once our renovation works had been complete.

What does the fourth star represent for customers – particular facilities, better food, or just generally higher standards all round?

Enhancing the overall guest experience is always our main priority. We’ve had a multimillion-euro upgrade to a large number of our bedrooms and our new ballroom. We’ve always prided ourselves in top quality food ingredients, in recent times we offer more extensive menus and placed a bigger emphasis on food presentation. We’ve always been thrilled here with our staff, they always provide personalised attention and great guest satisfaction.
Overall we’ve committed to providing our guests with a high level of comfort, luxury and service and customers can expect a range of benefits that reflect this commitment.

What do people come to the Mount Errigal for? Is it the recognised name, the central Donegal location, the food/luxury?

We see guests arrive to the hotel for several reasons, central location, events, dining and leisure facilities. We boast an extensive health club including a 20m swimming pool, sauna and steam room. We’re also a popular destination for events, the ballroom can cater for up to 1,000 people, we’ve seen big acts such as Meatloaf, The Corrs, Christy Moore and Aslan all play here in the past. We are a popular venue for weddings, we’ve seen most dates in 2024 and 2025 already taken since our upgrade. We have experienced event planners to help organise and execute the perfect day.

Did Covid change things at the hotel?

Many hotels have been impacted differently. Contactless services such as contactless check ins and contactless payment options across the sector have increased significantly.
The cabin fever that came with Covid has influenced people to travel more, there’s been record sales for booking sites buoyed by surging demand for staycations. I’ve noticed many of our guests are travelling for “experience” holidays, we all know Donegal has plentiful.

It seems as if people are spending a bit more on a little bit more luxury these days, as if the lockdown changed our perspectives. Is that something you see in the industry as well?

Of course, many people have been unable to travel for an extended period due to the pandemic and are therefore looking for a more indulgent and luxurious experience when they do travel. Additionally, as people have become more health-conscious during the pandemic, many are seeking out hotels that offer wellness amenities such as spa treatments, fitness classes, and healthy dining options.
Popular promotional platforms such as Tiktok and Instagram has influenced businesses to showcase their audience more and engage with them.

How do you expect the return to 13.5% VAT rate from September will affect the hotel?

I’d have concerns for many businesses across the sector, the inflationary impact will influence domestic tourism and our attractiveness as an overseas destination. Increasing the rate would make us 3rd highest against our European counterparts.
Hotels are already dealing with crippling costs covering a range of different areas ranging from energy prices, insurance to food and drink supplies.

What are the main skills in being a hotel manager?

You’d find similar skills for a manager across any sectors, organisational skills, technical skills, communication skills and sales in my opinion are the more crucial ones.
Problem solving would be one that would stand out for a hotel manager. You are faced with different scenarios every day; you must be able to anticipate and resolve and issues that may arise. This can be a maintenance issue, staffing problems and even a pandemic or recession to look at it in a broader context.

You’ve got arguably the best-known hotel in the area. Does that come with its own pressures, in the days of Tripadvisor?

The confidence we place in our staff and their customer focused attitude really helps deflect many pressures of online reputation. We have a core group of staff that have been working here 20 years plus since I was a toddler, it is a credit to them. It makes our lives much easier.

What’s it been like having a familiar name? Has that been a help, or do you feel you have to prove yourself a little bit more?

Not at all, it’s great that my grandad and dad have been in this industry all their lives, but we all have different approaches and personalities. The industry has changed completely since both their generations but it’s always a huge help to have for advice and planning.

There have been a few Grill Reunion nights out lately…any plans for a Scorpio Reunion?
You’ve planted the seed now Paul, I hear big John Logue was good on the decks back then. We may need him back.

Quick fire:
The book or the film?
Film

Your perfect night?
I enjoy a nice summer’s evening down in Downings sitting outside the Harbour Bar.

Favourite film?`
Dark Knight

Music?

Big into The Verve, Oasis, Stone Roses, the britpop era.

What do you look for most in a friend?
A good laugh.

What angers, frightens, or disappoints you?
The weather in Donegal.

How do you relax?
Sea swimming.

Do you have a motto you like to live or work by?
Work smarter not harder.

If anyone else would like to take part in this interview, to raise a profile or an issue, or just for fun, please contact Paul at Dnthirddegree@gmail.com

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