Corrs Corner

Editor Frank Corr gives his views on the hospitality and tourism industries, shares anecdotes and gossip and welcomes your contributions.

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Is Hospitality a Career ?

This article by Frank Corr appears in the July/August issue of 'Hotel and Restaurant Times'

As the Summer of 2019 reaches mid-point, thousands of young Irish people who have completed examinations are looking towards a career which will bring them satisfaction and a comfortable life style for decades to come.

Targeted by a high-impact recruitment campaign funded by Fáilte Ireland and the Irish Hotels Federation, many will look to the hospitality industry to fulfil those dreams.

The question for the industry however relates to its ability to deliver on its promises.

Ballad of the Brennans

Corrigan Brothers the band from Limerick who recorded "There's no one as Irish as Barack Obama" will feature a song in tribute to John and Francis Brennan on their new album which will be released in March.

The band of brothers who have played at President Obamas Inauguration as well as amassing millions of you tube hits were inspired to write the song because they are great fans of the Kenmare based brothers.

Brian Corrigan guitarist and song writer with the band said " John and Francis are practical lads with a great sense of fun and they really come across as sincere and practical people. We love their TV Programme so with John leaving the programme we thought we would celebrate them in a song"

The Song called the Brennan Brothers will feature on the Corrigans new album called "If your're leaving walk out backwards so I'll think you're comin in" will be released in Early March in time for the Brother your of the USA.

For those who want a new 'Party Piece' the lyrics are:

now if you have a b and b

that isn't doin well

or a guest house that is strugglin

or a small hotel

if bookins aren't comin in

like so many others

its time that you picked up the phone

and called the brennan brothers

chorus

now John and Francis Brennan

are two lads who know the game

the Park hotel in Kenmare

is where they made their name

they'll go through every detail

on that there is no doubt

and when the boys are finished

you will find yourself booked out

Francis he will scour the place

and he will be frustrated

if your carpets are too shabby

or your curtains are outdated

it all about the little things

no detail is too small

you'll be changin all the headboards

and paintin all the walls

chorus

John he is the numbers man

of that you can be sure oh

he'll check every cent to

ensure you save some euros

he'll tidy up your menu

and adjust your nightly rate

when it comes to numbers

john Brennan he is great

chorus

Francis will start marketing

and bring local people in

he'll help you to show off your wares

and you will begin

to see the business pickin up

much faster than the others

oh theres no one who can fix a place

like the Brennan Brothers

chorus

Connected, Footloose Romantics

Met any "connected families”, “footloose socialisers” “indulgent romantics” recently?

Can't say that I have- but Failte Ireland seems to come across them every day- so much so that they are specifically targeting these amorphous groups in a major marketing campaign.

According to the marketing boffins in Amiens Street, "Connected Families" put their heart into finding out everything a destination has to offer and like to have a carefully planned itinerary before they leave home. Their aim is to create shared memories with all of their family. That presumably is after they have returned home from Naas because they forgot to put out the cat and after they have threatened the kids with smashing their PLS if they don't stop fighting in the back of the car .

Footloose socialisers like getting away with their friends on short breaks as much as they can. They are value-conscious, independent travellers, who attend cultural and sporting events or engage in pursuits such as hillwalking during their short breaks. My guess is that they are also a group that likes to get pissed and get laid.

Indulgent romantics – consider the hotel to the most important factor in their choice of destination. They prioritise finding the perfect, romantic hub for their couples getaway, somewhere they can soak up luxury, reward themselves and be well looked after – and tell everyone on TripAdvisor about it if they’re not.

That bit I can believe.

'The Sea is Too Blue'

An overly-handsome waiter, a snoring girlfriend and the sea being too blue are among some of the complaints made to hotel staff, according to a recent survey.

Travel search engine Skyscanner quizzed 400 international hotel workers to draw up a list of the top ten unusual grumbles and diva-like demands.

Other complaints included sheets being too white, ice cream being too cold, the bath being too big and no steak on a vegetarian menu.

One customer asked for a discount after his sleep was disturbed by his snoring girlfriend, while another asked for a refund as his dog had had an unhappy stay.

Staff in a hotel in London's Mayfair were taken aback when a client bemoaned the lack of an ocean view. Equally eyebrow raising are some of the requests, including one for a dead mouse.

One guest asked for a bowl of crocodile soup, another for a bath of honey while one hungry punter demanded 15 cucumbers a day.

Tourists See Swordsman Show

A group of cruise tourists spending a day in Dublin, took home some memorable pictures after they watched a swordsman breach security on the Dail plinth.

As I was emerging from the National Libraray I spotted the visitors snapping away busily outside the gates of Leinster House as a brawny young man was being 'escorted' by Gardai into a squad car.

A few minutes earlier he slipped into the Dail plinth when a gate opened to allow access to a truck. Brandishing a large sword, he waved it about theatrically, much to the delight of the visitors who also saw the intruder being rugby tackled by Gardai.

It sure beat the usual images of intense-looking politicians talking into media mikes.