Carnaross native, Margaret Cahill, is the new chairperson of B&B Ireland, the body which represents over 60 per cent of B&B owners on the island.
Ms Cahill has worked for Tourism Ireland (formerly Bord Failte) for over 40 years and headed up mainland Europe operations for Bord Failte and Failte Ireland since 2000.
One of her first jobs was with Cork Kerry Tourism in Killarney and she then joined Bord Fáilte in New York in 1970, rising to the position of Promotions and Marketing Manager. She was appointed General Manager, Britain, with Bord Fáilte in 1987 and, in September 2000, Bord Fáilte appointed her to head up the mainland European markets, a post she was subsequently appointed to on the formation of Tourism Ireland.
As chairperson of B&B Ireland, she is predicting that 2010 will be a good year for their members and says consumer bookings on their website held their own for 2009, despite a major fall in the national figures.
B&B Ireland is a new body formed from the merger of Town and Country Homes and Irish Farmhouse Holidays. "We are predicting that 2010 business will be on a par with last year and may even rise. We acknowledge the difficult climate, but within B&B Ireland, our operators have been doing better because they can benefit from our joint marketing efforts and advanced online booking systems," she said.
Ms Cahill said online consumer bookings actually rose last year to 4,600 from just under 4,400 in 2008. "We acknowledge that domestic and overseas travel is seriously affected by the economic downturn, but the B&B sector is made up of small businesses which can adapt quickly and survive. Also, despite the fact that people have less money in their pockets, we can offer a good value break and an authentic rural or urban experience and our figures prove that this retains its attractions for Irish and overseas visitors alike."
"The bookings figures are a vindication of our strategy to invest in developing our marketing and IT infrastructure and activities, and training almost 1,000 B&B owners nationwide," she added. Ms Cahill said: "It also affirms our confidence in the B&B product, and the development of activity and packaged breaks, such as walking, angling, gourmet regional foods and farm stays. This is a great start to 2010 for those who own and run B&Bs all over the island, and the local businesses that rely on the tourism they bring to the regions."
