Two new GMIT graduates join Fáilte Ireland Graduate Training Programme
Following the success of the Fáilte Ireland Graduate Training Programme for graduates of the Galway International Hotel School in 2019, Fáilte Ireland has accepted two new graduates onto the training programme for 2020; Ciara O’Toole (BA Honours in Heritage Studies) and Hannah Smyth (BB Honours in International Tourism Management).
GMIT and Fáilte Ireland developed the training programme to give successful graduates the opportunity to work with the team in Fáilte Ireland on a structured 18-month training programme.
Last year’s successful applicants, Sinéad Collins (BA Honours in International Hotel Management) and Áine Henebry (BB Honours in International Tourism Management) joined the Fáilte Ireland Galway office last September. Successful applicants on the programme have the opportunity to work on major national and regional projects, including Fáilte Ireland’s visitor experience brands; the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, Ireland’s Ancient East, and Dublin.
Speaking about her experience on the Fáilte Ireland Graduate Training Programme, Sinéad Collins said “I am delighted to have spent the past year further developing my skills with Fáilte Ireland. I have had opportunity to work in a professional, fast paced environment alongside a team with invaluable experience. This has given me first-hand knowledge of the work that is being done through Fáilte Ireland to support the Tourism Industry in Ireland and I am sure this experience will stand to me going forward in my career.”
Welcoming Fáilte Ireland’s acceptance of two new GMIT graduates onto the training programme, Diarmuid Ó Conghaile, Head of Department for Tourism & Heritage at GMIT, said “We developed this programme with Fáilte Ireland because we know that our graduates have the skills, knowledge and experience to contribute in a positive and tangible way to the domestic tourism product of Ireland. The programme is structured and gives the graduates the opportunity to work on the ground with the team in Fáilte Ireland on major regional and national projects. In a time of great uncertainty in the tourism industry, Fáilte Ireland has clearly displayed confidence in our graduates by opening the programme to new applicants for 2020. Together, we are committed to sustaining and building upon this successful partnership into the future”.
Speaking about the importance of the training programme, Ella-Marie Stapleton, Fáilte Ireland said ”As the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland’s role is to support the long-term sustainable growth of tourism in Ireland. We developed this graduate training programme with GMIT to provide valuable work experience to tourism graduates and, in turn, provide potential employers in the tourism industry with access to a highly qualified and experienced pool of talent to fill roles into the future. Sinéad and Áine, who have been on the programme for the last year, have brought fresh and new ideas from their courses of study and we look forward to welcoming Ciara and Hannah this month.”
The Galway International Hotel School delivers four Honours Degree programmes; International Tourism Management, International Hotel Management, Event Management with Public Relations, and Heritage Studies; all of which are designed to prepare graduates for a successful career in both the domestic and international tourism industry.
For further information on programmes in the Galway International Hotel School, Galway, see: https://www.gmit.ie/hotel/galway-international-hotel-school
ENDS
Issued by Regina Daly, GMIT Communications Officer, Dublin Road, Galway
Tel 091 742826/0879618455 (m) regina.daly@gmit.ie www.gmit.ie/news
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