Whitbread PLC, owner of the Premier Inn hotel chain, has bolstered its development team in Ireland with the appointment of Emma O'Shiel as Project and Programme Manager. This move reinforces the company's ambitious growth strategy, aiming for a total of 5,000 Premier Inn rooms across the Emerald Isle.
O'Shiel brings over 15 years of experience in managing construction projects, honed during her time working for the Isle of Man government and private clients. Her expertise will prove invaluable as she takes on the responsibility of overseeing the construction of Whitbread's secured development sites in Ireland. She will report directly to Matt Gent, Head of Development for Ireland.
Currently operating six Premier Inns in Dublin and Cork, with over 1,000 rooms in total, Whitbread is well on track to meet its medium-term target of 5,000 rooms. This growth is driven by the company's confidence in the Irish market, backed by the positive performance of its existing hotels and a projected surge in demand for accommodation. Whitbread estimates that by the end of the decade, demand for hotel rooms in Ireland could exceed 20 million nights, fueled by a robust economy, low unemployment, and a projected increase in international visitors.
âEmma comes with the experience we need to take our expansion to the next level in Ireland,â stated Matt Gent. âShe will hit the ground running, delivering our secured pipeline of locations and assisting me and our wider team in evaluating development opportunities for Premier Inn across Ireland. Iâm looking forward to collaborating closely with her as we work towards our goal of establishing a network of Premier Inns in Ireland that matches the quality and depth of our estate in the UK.â
O'Shiel's initial focus will be on managing three major development sites in Dublin, alongside a second Premier Inn location in Cork. This will allow Matt Gent to concentrate on acquiring new strategic sites across the country.
In May 2024, Whitbread unveiled a revised strategy for its Irish network, identifying new target locations for Premier Inn, including Dublin city centre and four surrounding areas. Outside the capital, the company is pursuing eleven key locations, encompassing popular tourist destinations like Killarney, Kilkenny, and Sligo, as well as major cities such as Cork, Galway, and Limerick.
âWhitbreadâs flexibility as a development partner stood out when I applied for the position," commented Emma O'Shiel. "The business has a strong track record of delivering its hotels either independently or in partnership with private and public sector developers, and I'm excited by the opportunity to apply my experience working for both types of organisations in Ireland. Whitbreadâs ambitions are set high in Ireland, and I canât wait to play a part in supporting the business to achieve its goals.â
O'Shiel's appointment signifies Whitbread's commitment to solidifying its position as a major player in the Irish hotel market. With a strong development pipeline and a robust strategy in place, the company is poised to capitalise on the growing demand for high-quality accommodation across the country.
