Rory Clifford - Graduate Testimonial

Hotel/Hotels/Location of your graduate programme : Clayton Dublin Airport

Stream : Revenue

Can you tell us about the Dalata Graduate programme and your experience with this programme?

The programme was the ideal steppingstone out of college, where I studied hotel management in Shannon. There are next to no hotel groups that offer the kind of variety that Dalata does in terms of streams to uptake post college, with options to join almost any department in a hotel to cater to your interests and passions. I always found I was interested in the business and revenue side of the industry, and the revenue stream had a fantastic 18-month guide on how their operating systems, forecasting techniques, understanding the business mix and market analysis. I was also given a senior mentor throughout the programme from Central Office who I would catch up with on a monthly basis, which I found crucial in making sure I was constantly developing and not resting on what I knew so far. I came in with little to no experience of the field and by my graduation, I felt extremely confident within myself about my knowledge of the area and to be able to apply for a full-time role.

What is the most interesting project you have been involved in since you joined?

I was part of the hotel team which presented our 2024 budget to the senior Dalata board, which was an incredible experience I was only with them for 16 months at the time. I presented 3 slides on our overall strategy and distribution channels to the CEO, COO and more.

What is your favourite part of your job?

Being in the revenue team means you need to constantly keep an eye on events announcements, business news or local projects to make sure your hotel is correctly rated for any key dates or announcements. It taught me to read the news more and take better notice of current affairs, which is something I feel has become difficult to do in recent times. I quite enjoy this aspect of my job as there’s something new every day to consider, so certainly not a job where you can expect constant repetition.

What prompted you to apply for the Dalata Graduate Programme?

Dalata is still a relatively new hotel group and seeing how quickly they were expanding is quite exciting and means there are great opportunities to be part of a superb team so early in their journey. They’re also Irish which always helps, support local!

What was your experience of the Dalata Graduate recruitment process?

Thorough and fair, they covered all bases and had some interviews and questions which weren’t the norm and actually got you to think on your feet, something you can expect to do regularly in the hospitality industry!

Have you any tips for someone else thinking of applying to the Dalata Graduate Programme?

Get on LinkedIn and feel free to message any past graduates! They’ll always have the best answers and recommendations on the streams and what might be best suited to you.

Please give a brief overview of your journey since completing the graduate programme, including your current job title.

Revenue and Groups Executive – Clayton Dublin Airport

Systems Support Executive – Central Office

I currently work a split role between my hotel and central office, with the second role recently secured having completed the revenue development programme, a second programme following on from the graduate one which takes on a more detailed training and analysis of all things revenue management, as well as helping you meet current and future revenue managers.