The Irish Hospitality Institute is proud to announce Ciara Drohan, Group HR Manager of Tifco Hotel Group has been elected the 31st President of the Irish Hospitality Institute.
With over two decades of experience in Human Resources, Ciara has held senior HR positions across leading hospitality brands including Jurys Doyle Hotel Group, Mercer Accommodation Group, Dunboyne Castle and Dylan Hotel, and the Cliff Group. Since 2021, she has served as Group Human Resources Manager at Tifco Hotel Group, overseeing strategic HR initiatives across a diverse hotel portfolio.
Ciara holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Resource Management and is committed to continuous professional development, with additional qualifications in Mentoring, Mediation, Health and Safety, and Organisational Behaviour. A Chartered Member of the CIPD, she brings both strategic insight and operational expertise to her roles.
In addition to her professional work, Ciara dedicated over 12 years as a board member of a European NGO representing 46 national patient associations, reflecting her commitment to advocacy and inclusive leadership.
Ciara has been an IHI Board director for the past five years and was elected Deputy President in 2023
Ciara is committed to ensuring the IHI remains a strong, relevant, and progressive organisation—one that continues to provide meaningful support to all professionals across the industry.
Ciara said, “It is a great honour and privilege to have been elected the 31st President of the Irish Hospitality Institute (IHI).
With shifts in expectations, technology, and talent needs, our profession is changing—and it is our people who will lead the way forward.
We as an organisation must remain well-positioned to influence policy, shape the future of our profession, and effectively advocate on behalf of our members. Equally important is our role in supporting educators and promoting hospitality and tourism as a respected, dynamic, and rewarding lifelong career path.
Our mission as an institute remains the same as it did since our foundation in 1966 which is to foster the career growth of individuals in the hospitality industry by offering valuable insights, mentoring, networking opportunities, events, and by celebrating excellence throughout the sector.
With the board and IHI team, I hope to continue the good work already in place with the IHI Mentors Matter programme, IHI Rise, the Business Games, the recently launched John Toner next Generation award, the College of Fellows and of course our annual HMA’s which celebrates professionals within our industry who are a testament to professionalism, provide exceptional contribution, and an unwavering dedication to our industry, an industry which has 69,000 people in it,” Drohan continued.