There is renewed confidence in the hotel sector in Ireland.
Over 200 hotel owners, managers, agents and suppliers recently attended a recent business briefing hosted by Bank of Ireland.
The theme of the event was ‘Changing trends in the hotel sector’.
Speakers included Shaun Quinn, CEO Fáilte Ireland; John Hughes, director, CBRE Hotels Ireland; Aiden Murphy, Crowe Horwath; Sarah Duignan, STR; Weldon Mather, WM Consultancy; Gerardo Larios, head of hospitality, Bank of Ireland.

Shaun Quinn, CEO Fáilte Ireland spoke about tourism trends and the outlook for Ireland.
“The hotel sector, particularly in the cities and traditional tourism hotspots, seem to be benefitting from increased activity in the domestic and overseas markets,” he said.
“The key to continuing recovery in tourism will lie in our overseas markets.”
Gerardo Larios, head of hospitality, Bank of Ireland, said that there is an increased confidence within the hospitality sector. “Businesses are beginning to expand and invest, and this is reflected in growing demand for term loans.”
In the past ten months, Bank of Ireland has approved over €110 million in funding to the hotel sector and is seeing real momentum across the industry. 
“We expect this trend to continue. The hotel sector has very good reasons to be optimistic and ambitious,” said Larios.
Below are the links to the trend reports presented at the event:
Shaun Quinn, CEO, Fáilte Ireland .
John Hughes, Director, CBRE.
Aiden Murphy, Crowe Horwath.
Sarah Duignan, STR.
Weldon Mather, WM Consultancy.
Images of Ashford Castle and Adare Manor from Shutterstock.

“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.” James Penney, founder of JCPenny.
To scale your business, you must enter new markets. Help is at hand for Irish firms with global ambitions.
Nearly 90% of Irish companies want to enter new international markets in the next 12 months, according to Enterprise Ireland’s latest research.
Enterprise Ireland says that over 140 of its international market advisors from over 30 of its overseas offices have returned to help 400 companies in Ireland develop new global export plans.
Following Brexit, Irish companies are ramping up their focus on larger target markets including USA/Canada; Northern Europe; Southern Europe/Middle East/Africa; Asia and Central Europe/Eastern Europe/CIS; Russia; and Latin America.
“We need to continue to drive the ambition of Irish exporters, especially in the aftermath of Brexit,” says Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland.
The Global Ambition project by Enterprise Ireland aims to encourage more exporters to scale up their export plans.
To apply for help go to Global Ambition.

Interior architects Claire Price and Elaine Regan (above) launched HouseEdit.ie, a digital interiors platform, in September 2016. Here, Claire Price tells their story so far.
How would I describe what we do? HouseEdit.ie is an online interiors, lifestyle & sourcing guide, that offers affordable, shoppable content. No more searching for hours on end to find the perfect side table, lamp or rug. House Edit has all your favourite high street brands on just one site. Imagine a boutique Amazon for interiors with expert advice and inspiration.
Staying afloat during the transition from the design studio to online interiors and lifestyle destination has been our greatest achievement to date. 
Like all new businesses, we’ve had weak moments. Pre-launch we were working 18 hour days, and we had to dig deep. Cash flow was always a challenge as we began to take on less studio work. But somehow we navigated our way through. 
“I used to laugh at his TV commercials years ago; now I listen to the guy on a daily basis.”

Taking time out to step back from the business helps when you get a setback. Getting out and reluctantly exercising also really helps to focus. Personally, my secret weapon has to be Tony Robbins, a life and business strategist. I used to laugh at his TV commercials years ago; now I listen to the guy on a daily basis. 
How do I feel about risk? It’s an inevitable part of business but calculate it and protect your downside. Providing you don’t leave yourself destitute, losing your initial investment in a business isn’t the end of the world. Owing the bank a ‘ginormous’ loan, however, may be. So try to be strategic.
“It’s very easy to get caught up with the small stuff and lose sight of the primary objective: delivering an excellent service and growing your

Major jobs and investment exhibition for Croke Park on November 3, 2016.
The Upper Shannon-Erne Project partners of Cavan, Leitrim, Longford and Roscommon Local Authorities, Bord Na Mona and the ESB are hosting a jobs and investment exhibition at Croke Park Conference Centre on November 3, 2016. 
The opportunities the Upper Shannon-Erne region has to offer businesses that want to set up – and the partnership approach that is active there – will be key topics at the event, which will host many interesting businesses and speakers. 
The Center Parcs project
For example, Raj Singh-Dehal, HR and commercial services director of Center Parcs, will outline his company’s vision for developing a forest resort – the biggest tourism investment [ever to be made] in the region.
Ciaran Corcoran, site director of Abbott Diagnostics, will share his experience of growing a medical device company in Longford. 
And Sharon Lavin, Waterways Ireland, will discuss how the Blueway project has transformed the inland waterways for recreational use.
Download the full invest4success-programme for details of all the keynote speakers and exhibitors. 
Pictured is Lough Key, Boyle, Co. Roscommon.

The API sector is currently one of “the most exciting and dynamic” sectors in the Irish software industry.
At a recent Irish Software Association event, sponsored by Bank of Ireland, the speakers and the attendees discussed the API sector and its potential [positive] impact on the tech economy. 
What’s an API?
There are over 12,000 APIs offered by firms today. An API is best thought of as “a contract provided by one piece of computer software to another”.
The Harvard Business Review reports that Salesforce.com generates 50% of its revenue through APIs, Expedia.com generates 90%, and eBay generates 60%.
“APIs are the means by which to execute a strategy, not a substitute for it,” says Adrian Mullet, head of technology at Bank of Ireland and organiser of the event.
“The Irish software companies that are using APIs to expand the reach of their products are seeing big wins for the partners within their API ecosystem.”
Great growth opportunities
Paul Sweetman, director of Irish Software Association, said the success of Irish software and technology companies is “built on an ecosystem of collaboration”.
“The API economy and the acceleration of API use represent a tremendous growth opportunity for Irish technology companies,” adds Mullett. “Companies across a diverse range of sectors such as finance, media, hospitality and travel are using APIs as a critical component of their business model.”

Speakers at the technology sector insights event, which took place at IBEC’s offices in Dublin, included (left to right) Alan Foy, group CEO, Blueface; Adrian Mullett, head of technology sector, Bank of Ireland; Paolo Malinverno, research vice president at Gartner; Dr Helen McBreen, investment director, Atlantic Bridge; and Maurice Buckley, CEO, TheHireLab.

Wilton Castle played host to one of the last duels fought in Ireland. Today it has been transformed back to its former glory and into a thriving business by farmer Sean Windsor.
Following a decade of conservation and restoration, dairy farmer Sean Windsor has opened up Wilton Castle as a hospitality venue, ideal for holidays, weddings and special occasions. Situated on his land at Bree, near Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, the south wing of the Castle has been lovingly restored and is now attracting an increasing number of overseas visitors.                  
What inspired you to restore Wilton Castle? 
I grew up living and farming within a stone’s throw of the Castle, and I suppose at the back of my mind, I always had a desire to try and return the Castle to its former glory. I grew up with stories such as the architectural link between Wilton Castle, Johnstown Castle and Powerscourt and also that one of the last duels in Ireland was fought here in 1807, with tragic outcomes for both combatants.
However, from 1923 until 2004 it was in complete ruin, and it was going to require an enormous effort to restore it. To succeed, I knew I would have to do a lot of the work myself while still managing the farm and milking the cows in our herd on a daily basis.
What’s your family connection with the Castle?
The history of the Castle can be traced back to the mid-13th century when a family by the name of De Dene was recorded living here in 1247. The Alcock family were the longest in residence from 1695 until the Castle was burned down in 1923. My grandfather happened to be the estate steward or manager at this time. During the blaze and just before the roof collapsing, he helped rescue some of the furniture

Small businesses need more than financial support. With this in mind, Microfinance Ireland (MFI) has launched a new mentoring service.  
The mentoring service will accompany the small loans MFI lends to businesses, whether they are starting or growing. The businesses must have 10 or fewer employees, however.
“While businesses constantly tell me that getting funding support for their business is very important, I believe our mentoring assistance is more critical to many new businesses,” says Garrett Stokes, CEO of Microfinance Ireland.
“Many business people are experts in their own sector, but they are weak in other areas such as finance, marketing and planning. Mentoring is another valuable aid to helping small businesses succeed.”
Go to your LEO for advice
The Microfinance Ireland mentoring service is delivered through the Local Enterprise Offices. 
Microfinance Ireland, set up four years ago as a government funded, not-for-profit lender to help get more people starting businesses, has so far helped to create over 2,300 jobs.
Microfinance Ireland works in partnership with the network of Local Enterprise Offices and the Local Development Companies, to offer business loans to small businesses. Further information about the mentoring service is available on www.microfinanceireland.ie.                                                                                  

Does your startup want $100,000 and an office space in San Francisco?
San Francisco-based accelerator programme Highway1 is accepting new applications for its eighth class from October 25, 2016. 
The programme is open to international applicants. Irish startups Drop and Ayda participated in the past. 

What is an accelerator? 
Accelerator programmes are for existing businesses that have the potential to grow. Accelerators typically offer shared office spaces, networking and mentoring opportunities and seed capital in exchange for a share of the business.
What’s on offer with this accelerator?
Successful applicants to Highway1 will avail of:
●        Up to $100,000 for 8% equity or $50,000 for 5%.
●        Onsite support from electrical, mechanical, firmware and manufacturing engineers.
●        Office space in San Francisco.
●        24/7 access to state-of-the-art prototyping labs.
●        Introductions to the best industrial design studios.
●        A trip to Shenzhen, China and an introduction to local resources.
●        A network of alumni, mentors and partners.
●        Introductions to key investors.
Applications close on November 1, 2016. For more information, visit Highway1.  
READ: A ‘gym for Irish food startups’.

Bord Bia’s ambitious new project aims to spread Irish food around the globe.
The FoodWise2025 initiative aims to double Ireland’s food exports to €19 billion in the next ten years and to achieve this; the industry will need access not only to new markets but also unprecedented levels of research and insight. With this in mind, Bord Bia is launching a state of the art research centre called the Thinking House in Dublin.
State of the art
The centre comprises a Trends Zone to track the latest global food and drink developments, a packaging and branding gallery, as well as space for up to 70 people for workshops, presentations and meetings.
Also, the Thinking House will have what’s being called the ‘Living Room’; a space rigged with audio and video recording equipment for focus and discussion groups. Meanwhile, a comprehensive library of data and reports will be made available to industry SMEs which previously would not have had access to this kind of information. 
Global expansion
If FoodWise2025 is to meet its target, Irish exports to international markets will need to treble. In particular, as well as stepping up its efforts in Europe, the industry is hoping for a quadrupling of exports to Asia. Such is its commitment to this goal that Bord Bia recently opened an office in Singapore. 
Bord Bia already conducts extensive research into the emerging markets of Asia and Africa, with staff going to these continents and visiting people in their homes to get a better understanding of their food habits, even going as far to have a look inside their fridges.  
Did you know?

The potato was introduced to the British Isles in the 16th century but wasn’t embraced by the Irish until the late 17th century. Up until that point, the Irish seem to have consumed mostly corn and milk (and some meat

Hiring your first employee is one of the most important things you will do as a business person. You need to get it right.
Starting a new business is an exciting, and stressful, time for any new entrepreneur. One of the toughest phases that any new business can experience is growth. There will eventually come the point where you will reach the limit of what you can achieve as a one-man show. When it comes to hiring your second in command; you need to not only make sure you are choosing the right person for the right role but that you are in a good position to hire. Here are some items to check off your list when hiring your first employee.
Recruiting – know what you need
Full time, part time or just a few hours a week? Salesperson or office admin? Deciding which role you need to hire for first is just as important as the person you hire. Are you gathering more interest than you can keep up with and need a second salesperson to help with demand? Or are your suppliers not getting paid and admin is backing up? Perhaps you need both. Sitting down and deciding the most important role to help you to get to the next phase of growth is important. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of hiring your first employee but don’t hire because having a second salesperson sounds good, hire because you need them. 
 

Advertise the role
Choosing the wording and platform to advertise your position can be just as important as the person you want. Ensure your job description is as detailed as possible so candidates know exactly what they are applying for. Vague titles, such as Business Development, can mean different things to different people so try to add as