As the represenative body for more than 750 hotels and guesthouses across the country, the Irish Hotels Federation is committed to quality and excellence in the industry. It has long provided members with legislation information, helped with lobbying governments and provided assistance to members in the areas of marketing, personnal, training and staff development.

Last year the IHF set up the Quality Employer Programme which, according to Anne O'Carroll, head of education, placement and research at the federation, is "a code of practices developed for our members which sets standards in the industry to do with all areas of employment." This includes recruitment, training, personnel relations, rostering and arranging work hours.

In operation for nearly a year now, the programme, according to O'Carroll, "is really working well." Designed to meet the needs of a growing industry, the programme was set up by the IHF because it believes it's more important now than it ever was for employers to build and strengthen the workforce by attracting and retaining quality people and maintaining high standards of employment.

The federation also produces a comprehensive booklet on colleges and course information to help those who would like to pursue a career in the hotel and guesthouse industry.

O'Carroll points out, too, that some hotels offer trainee programmes to school-leavers. "Though most people prefer to go through a formal training, I'm always here to advise on hotels which take in trainees," she says.