The industry:

An estimated 3,389 managers are employed in the Irish hotel sector. According to CERT, 98 per cent are employed on a permanent basis.

Trainee managers make up 12 per cent of hotel managers. A further estimated 447 management staff are employed in the guesthouse sector.

Getting in:

There are a number of options for young people who want to train to be managers in the hotel and catering industry:

A management course in a college through the CAO and based on Leaving Cert points

A CERT course followed by work experience in a hotel and a supervisory or management course at a third-level college - graduates of CERT courses get qualifications certified by the National Tourism Certification Board which are recognised by employers throughout the EU

A young person may apply to a hotel to train as a hotel manager, learning on the job and completing a trainee manager development programme with CERT. A number of hotels offer these programmes to school-leavers.

They can train at a private college, such as at the Shannon College of Hotel Management.

Pay:

Pay levels are rising in the industry. Trainees get a guaranteed rate and are paid during work placements from college. There is now a code of employment practice for Irish hotels and restaurants and a register of audited quality employers, which means employers are on a par with the best internationally. Deputy managers earn between £25,000 and £35,000 a year, while supervisors earn around £20,000 a year.

A general manager's salary can be high depending on the establishment. Some earn up to £100,000 a year.

Contacts:

The Irish Hotels Federation is at 13 Northbrook Road, Dublin 6 - phone (01) 497 6459, fax (01) 497 4613.

The Restaurants Association of Ireland is based at 11 Bridge Court, City Gate, Dublin 8 - phone (01) 677 9901.

CERT, the State Tourism Training Agency, runs a free 24-hour careers hotline at 1850 256 256. Its website at www.cert.ie

CERT Recruitment is at CERT House, Amiens Street, Dublin 1 - phone (01) 855 6555.