A major new centre has been established at the Institute of Technology, Tralee (ITT) that underlines the college’s continued commitment to addressing directly the practical needs of the hospitality and tourism sector. The Irish Academy of Hospitality & Tourism is a dedicated facility that provides continuous professional development programmes of specific application to the industry it serves. The IAHT also facilitates the development of an applied research community directly linked to the needs of the sector, and aims to establish strategic partnerships with other third level institutions and organisations, nationally and internationally.

The Academy is supported by a highly experienced team with significant levels of knowledge and experience of the hospitality and tourism sector. It will also collaborate with other institutes internationally to fulfil its role.

Dr. Oliver Murphy, President, Institute of Technology, Tralee commented that the IAHT will complement the Institute of Technology, Tralee’s range of education programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels which have been successfully providing industry with highly skilled employees for the past 25 years. The centre will further enhance the strong links the Institute has established with the hospitality and tourism sector, both nationally & internationally and will strengthen the Institute‘s relevance to this sector.

The IAHT advisory board includes Irish industry representatives from the:

• Irish Hotels Federation
• Restaurant Association of Ireland
• Irish Tourism Industry Confederation
• Irish Hospitality Institute
• Vintners Federation of Ireland
• Fáilte Ireland
• Kerry County Council
• Academic Representation from
• International Colleges
• DOWNLOAD: IAHT Overview & Advisory Board

The Academy is managed by Mary Rose Stafford, former Head of the Hotel, Culinary & Tourism Department at the Institute of Technology, Tralee. Mary Rose has worked for over fifteen years in international hotel management, in Ireland, London and New York, and has over ten years’ experience in hospitality and tourism education.