The hotel industry is hoping to create 40,000 new jobs by the end of the decade.
Growing tourist numbers, new openings and expansion of existing hotels means that the sector needs managers, accountants, food-and-beverage managers, chefs, health professionals and other skilled workers.
Many hoteliers now want to erase the image of difficult working conditions and minimum wages and as a result, they are offering on- the-job training, travel at home and abroad and salaries in some cases exceeding €100,000 a year for top jobs such as chefs and general managers.
The recruitment drive comes as tourism interests predict 2016 will deliver another bumper year, with visitor numbers rising to a record 8.2 million and revenue swelling to €4.4 billion.
It is expected the Government target of 250,000 jobs – up from 205,000 currently – in the industry by 2025 will comfortably be met.
