Michael Ahern Email & Phone Number

Galway, County Galway, Ireland

Longford Forest

Project management through implementation, enabling and opening phase of the Accommodation Services and Housekeeping Division within the €255 Million investment at Center Parcs Longford Forest. Responsible for all areas of the division including project briefs, planning through development phase and recruitment, training, and creation of the division from the ground up prior to the launch,Post opening responsibility for the division with excess of 400 members of the team across 7… Show more Project management through implementation, enabling and opening phase of the Accommodation Services and Housekeeping Division within the €255 Million investment at Center Parcs Longford Forest. Responsible for all areas of the division including project briefs, planning through development phase and recruitment, training, and creation of the division from the ground up prior to the launch,Post opening responsibility for the division with excess of 400 members of the team across 7 departments including resource management, inventory & logistics, central buildings, and accommodation. Strategic and financial planning for the first full fiscal trading year with ongoing management of other key areas of the business – Recruitment, Labour Turnover, Guest Satisfaction, Budget control, Statutory compliance, and external contracts including facilities management. Show less

Woburn Forest

Overall line management responsibility for the Accommodation Services & Housekeeping Division with similar responsibility to my role at Longford Forest but for more than 650 employees across 5 departments.

Overall responsibility for the village operationally liaising with all departments to ensure they are delivering excellent service in line with guest and company expectations. Key person responsibility in the event of a fire, first aid or other serious incident. To handle issues that are escalated from divisional duty managers or guest services and to liaise with the duty line manager to ensure best practises. To provide feedback to line managers, GM and DGM on village issues by way of… Show more Overall responsibility for the village operationally liaising with all departments to ensure they are delivering excellent service in line with guest and company expectations. Key person responsibility in the event of a fire, first aid or other serious incident. To handle issues that are escalated from divisional duty managers or guest services and to liaise with the duty line manager to ensure best practises. To provide feedback to line managers, GM and DGM on village issues by way of village walk around and reporting or to raise any urgent issues to the relevant department for immediate action. Show less

Working closely with the Site Manager to ensure successful running of the site and meeting of targets both in regards to financial and safety management. Deputising for the site manager in his absence with overall responsibility for the operation. Duties included all aspects of site operation: recruitment, training, equipment management, facilities management, Course and PPE inspection, health and safety, HR, customer-care, administration and local marketing.

Business owner, providing outdoor activities for individuals, families, tourists and corporate groups on a pay per service basis; activities include sea kayaking, kayak fishing, wilderness skills, archery; delivering accredited Irish Canoe Union proficiency skills (levels 1 to 5) training; equipment rental and sales; single and multi-day excursions* Created successful and profitable company with growing portfolio of business * Successful partnering with local and national tourism… Show more Business owner, providing outdoor activities for individuals, families, tourists and corporate groups on a pay per service basis; activities include sea kayaking, kayak fishing, wilderness skills, archery; delivering accredited Irish Canoe Union proficiency skills (levels 1 to 5) training; equipment rental and sales; single and multi-day excursions* Created successful and profitable company with growing portfolio of business * Successful partnering with local and national tourism agencies to deliver customer experiences * Selected by Failté Ireland as part of a nationwide campaign to advertise tourism in Ireland in 2012 * Provided sponsorship (training, equipment and logistics planning) for team attempting a 100 mile source to mouth river expedition in 2012 * Created all policies, procedures and risk assessment manuals to ensure high levels of safety * Successfully raised funds for Enable Ireland charity with attempt to cross Irish Sea Show less

Oversee a 50+ person team of leisure assistants and outdoor adventure instructors with responsibility for outdoor adventure sports, large sports complex and retail outlet; responsible for all aspects of the leisure department including recruitment, induction, payroll, performance appraisals, training and development; budget management delivering to corporate sales targets, P/L reporting, payroll and monitoring department performance and standards to KPIs * Created and implemented a… Show more Oversee a 50+ person team of leisure assistants and outdoor adventure instructors with responsibility for outdoor adventure sports, large sports complex and retail outlet; responsible for all aspects of the leisure department including recruitment, induction, payroll, performance appraisals, training and development; budget management delivering to corporate sales targets, P/L reporting, payroll and monitoring department performance and standards to KPIs * Created and implemented a successful marketing campaign that included inter-departmental promotions, loyalty schemes and special offers that resulted achieving financial targets within 12 months * Created a Sports and Leisure departmental training manual that includes policies and procedures for risk assessments, operating safety standards and team training * Pro-active management of stock control for retail outlet and equipment, successfully reducing stock loss and wastage * Successfully monitored standards and processes leading to annual White Flag award for Trabolgan Village swimming pool and spas from 2007 to present* Weekly undertaking of Duty Manager role with overall responsibility for 1,200 guests and staff and a 150 acre site with residential and operational premises, ensuring guest experience and customer service are at highest levels across all departments Show less

Whitegate, Co. Cork, Ireland

Worked night shift (5pm to site close); cash handling (reconciliation and transportation) for all departments; liaising across departments to ensure efficient running of services; answering customer queries; responsible for overseeing security and first-aid teams * Awarded Manager of the Year in 2009 in recognition for high standard and quality of service

Deputised for the Site Operations Manager to oversee key services including housing, laundry, maintenance, pool and spa services, pool plant, water and sewage treatment plants; worked closely with all on-site departmental managers to ensure the upkeep of equipment and machinery; communication with external contractors to arrange equipment replacements and repairs * Updated and created serious incident management plans for the Holiday Village * Successfully co-ordinated appropriate… Show more Deputised for the Site Operations Manager to oversee key services including housing, laundry, maintenance, pool and spa services, pool plant, water and sewage treatment plants; worked closely with all on-site departmental managers to ensure the upkeep of equipment and machinery; communication with external contractors to arrange equipment replacements and repairs * Updated and created serious incident management plans for the Holiday Village * Successfully co-ordinated appropriate site responses to serious incidents including a power outage, serious first-aid incidents and fire Show less

Various

I have worked in various positions for various companies between school and college years from 1996 to 2006. Positions included cleaner, barman, security officer, security manager (pubs and clubs), instructor and senior instructor in various businesses in Cork including Trabolgan Holiday Village, Ballyhass Lakes Activity Center, Blackstone Security and others.

Postgraduate Diploma, Financial Management

Level 8 Higher Diploma, Tourism Management, Destination Development & Strategic Marketing

Software Engineering & Computer Networking

Leaving Certificate