The team at the Innovate Room prides itself on deep tourism sector-specific experience and knowledge. The team is motivated by the level of change, big thinking, and success they can bring to client projects. In all projects, they work alongside their clients, crafting solutions to complex issues and adding value to all the businesses they work with. In effect, they live their name – innovating with clients to deliver commercial and financial success.
We are passionate about being current and relevant and our team continues to engage in professional learning Programmes such as Digital Marketing, Mentoring for Professionals, and Master Programmes in Professional Practice. The Innovate Room is an accredited practice in the Irish Management Consulting Association- the standard bearer for professional practice.
Strategic Marketing, Revenue Management, Business Strategy, Executive Mentoring
Oonagh is recognised as a thought leader in the tourism and hospitality space as she regularly offers guidance and insights to the wider industry and has a reputation for positive and innovative contributions to many industry forums. Oonagh has strong communication and interpersonal skills and enjoys facilitating robust discussions among Read more>
Oonagh is recognised as a thought leader in the tourism and hospitality space as she regularly offers guidance and insights to the wider industry and has a reputation for positive and innovative contributions to many industry forums.
Oonagh has strong communication and interpersonal skills and enjoys facilitating robust discussions among stakeholder groups as part of her consulting work.
Oonagh thrives in working as part of multidisciplinary teams to deliver projects. Leading change from an organisational and stakeholder level is a key cornerstone of all her work.
Oonagh works with tourism organisations such as Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland, and educational institutions such as Shannon College to deliver current and relevant learning mentoring and advisory services
Key areas of expertise
- Business Analysis
- Maximising online and offline distribution channels
- Executive Mentoring,
- Business Advisory & Management Training
- Strategic Sales & Revenue Planning
Commercial Sales & Marketing
Helen’s background includes working for global luxury brands such as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, in addition to lifestyle brands such as The Doyle Collection. Helen has been working as a consultant for seven years and has enjoyed being part of a diverse range of Read more>
Helen’s background includes working for global luxury brands such as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, in addition to lifestyle brands such as The Doyle Collection. Helen has been working as a consultant for seven years and has enjoyed being part of a diverse range of projects at both destination and individual business level across the entire spectrum of hospitality, from hotels to B&Bs, restaurants, pubs, activity providers, visitor attractions and tour operators. Helen excels at engaging at stakeholder level, crafting strategy and vision but also works collaboratively across executive and operational groups mentoring teams to implement change.
Helen develops and delivers bespoke training and mentoring on a range of topics including domestic and international sales, innovative and strategic marketing and a selection of specialist associated topics including the luxury market, product design and development, and business strategy.
Helen’s qualifications include BA in History and Politics, Diplomas in Public Relations and Digital Marketing and a Masters in Professional Practice.
Key areas of expertise
- Business strategy
- Strategic sales planning and training
- New market diversification
- Synergising marketing and sales efforts to optimise return on investment
Our expert panel of Associates
We are delighted to have made friends over the years with some likeminded, talented and innovative individuals who make up our associate panel- working with us on various projects and bringing their considerable expertise to the table to help deliver successful multi-faceted projects.
Deirdre McDonald is a skilled trainer and mentor, a hospitality management professional with 27 industry experience.
Marketing and service excellence specialist, with professional experience across an extensive range of hotels, specialist accommodation and visitor attractions. Deirdre’s business strengths combine operational expertise and strategic marketing, with an appreciation for service excellence. This unique blend of skills, alongside a successful track record in hotel General Management allow Deirdre to deliver mentoring and advisory supports to businesses underpinned by an appreciation and understanding of their operation. She is most passionate about sharing industry insights and knowledge, to support tourism and hospitality businesses in delivering service excellence and reaching their full commercial potential.
A member of the Irish Hospitality Institute, Deirdre holds an MBS in Tourism Management from UCD, a Degree in Hospitality Management from DIT and a Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing. Deirdre is a member of the Fáilte Ireland expert panel. From a training perspective she develops and delivers bespoke training solutions from independent hotels and visitor attractions to the Irish Hotels Federation, and is programme tutor and mentor for the Diageo Learning for Life programme.
Key areas of expertise
- Strategic Sales and Marketing
- Reputation Management
- Operations Management and Service Excellence
Sandra is a versatile, results-driven strategic professional with over 20 years of hospitality, leadership, distribution and commercial experience. Her experience has been gained at Senior Management level in International Group and Independent Hotels, working as part of multi-disciplinary teams.
Sandra has developed exceptional relationships with clients, peers, owners and senior leadership to provide sustainable business solutions. Sandra also enjoys strong relationships with various technology providers and OTA market managers.
Sandra has a successful track record in developing hotel operational teams into the Revenue Management and Commercial way of thinking. To ensure consistency, standards and operational excellence for hotels and their teams, Sandra has led numerous process reviews and process changes supported by SOP development and delivery.
Her skill set focuses on implementing a seamless technology set-up to ensure successful strategies can be implemented, and revenue can be maximised. Sandra is an expert in optimising distribution and OTA management as part of the overall distribution and connectivity landscape for hospitality and visitor attractions.
Key areas of expertise
- Technology & distribution implementation and reviews
- Workflow analysation and process improvements
- Revenue Management optimisation
- Project Management
Amanda is a commercial consultant, specialising in Revenue strategy & analysis in both the hotel and visitor attraction space.
She has a proven track record of leading a multi-disciplinary (Sales, Marketing, Revenue) team in achieving key business goals. Results-driven and expertise in implementing key processes and technology to increase efficiencies and revenue across the organisation.
Aiding in the utilization of Opera PMS and Configuration, as well as channel managers, revenue management and CRM systems. Excellent project management skills, coupled with a strategic outlook and proven leadership ability. Proven record of forecasting revenue, implementing strategy and delivering results across key market segments.
She has strong experience in training and mentorship across Front office, Revenue, Reservations & Sales and Marketing departments.
Amanda develops and delivers bespoke training in Revenue Management via the Irish Hotel Federation Skillnet programme, as well as providing mentorship and training privately in the areas of pricing, process & team structure, digital campaigns, and distribution.
She has a strong background in communicating strategies to all key members in the organisation, from operations to stakeholders. Amanda has high-level presentation and communication skills and a solid background in delivering training across multiple teams. She has ongoing guest lecture spots at Shannon College of Hotel Management, Munster Technological University, and the former Tralee Institute of Technology.
Amanda’s work with Failte Ireland’s Digital that Deliver programme involves content development and online training for the Visitor Experience sector, in the area’s of Distribution & Pricing.
Key areas of expertise
- Strategic Revenue planning and forecasting
- Technology implementation
- Project Management
Niamh O’Shea is a hospitality consultant with over 25 years experience.
Niamh has worked across many spectrums of the hospitality industry including general manager of the luxury Killarney Park Hotel for 18 years and more recently as a destination practitioner for Failte Ireland and Killarney tourism.
Skilled at project management, operational efficiencies and customer experience delivery, Niamh also has a strong track record in financial management and commercially solid decision making. Niamh now enjoys providing coaching and training for tourism SME’s and organisations and assisting businesses to make the most of their potential by drawing on her experience, knowledge and creativity.
Niamh has always been passionate about business networks and collaboration and during her career has served as Chairperson on several executives and boards such as Killarney Training Network, Kerry Convention Bureau and Kerry Irish Hotel Federation.
Key areas of expertise
- Luxury Hotel Operations
- Five Star Customer Experience
- Leadership of Local Tourism Networks
Amy Alice Horgan is a Hospitality professional with over 12 years industry experience.
Experienced in Sales & Marketing with a demonstrated history of working in the hospitality industry. Skilled in Marketing, Sales, Wedding Industry, Leisure Industry, PR, Digital Marketing and Market Research. Strong sales professional with a Masters in Marketing from NUIG, Honors Degree in Business & Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing from Digital Marketing Institute. Amy has worked at Group Level for the Irish owned hotel group the Talbot Collection along with working at property level with Hotels in Cork, Wexford, Dublin, Carlow, Galway & Mayo.
Key areas of expertise
- Sales & Marketing Management
- Digital Marketing
- Public Relations
Colm is an expert within the luxury global hospitality sector. He has worked for over 30 years, both in a managerial capacity and senior advisory role, for some of the world’s leading hotels. He possesses a unique depth and breadth of experience having led hospitality appraisal projects in many parts of the globe including China, Europe and the Americas. His most recent position has been General Manager of Alborada Ocean Club, a large 3 star resort on the island of Tenerife (Spain). Appointed by the owner, Libra Group, to put a senior team together and steer it back towards profitability.
His competency is in diagnosing operational issues, assessing quality and critiquing the customer service experience within the context of improving brand and corporate culture. He worked for Richey International for over 8 years, a bespoke US hospitality consultancy firm. This allowed him to interact with the leading hotel brands and design world-class standard operating procedures for companies such as Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Six Senses and Shangri-la.
Colm’s background stems from having managed teams in both front-of-house and food and beverage departments in luxury hotels in London and New York such as Food and Beverage Control at Claridge’s and Assistant Manager at the Rosewood Carlyle New York. Before moving to New York he was Assistant Manager at the Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge, London, a boutique hotel known for its Michelin star restaurant.
He is a graduate of Westminster College London and Dublin’s Technological University hotel management programme. He earned an MBA from the University College Dublin Graduate School of Business in 1998 and was awarded a Certificate in Asset Management from the Cornell School of Hotel Management in 2017.
Key areas of expertise
Areas of Expertise:- Food and Beverage Concepts
- Tailoring the Customer Experience
- Brand Integrity
- Asset Management