70 | TRADE NEWS
HAYS TRAVEL STAFF APPRECIATION NIGHT
www.nitravelnews.com
April/May 2025
Hastings Hotels Announce New Appointment of General Manager
HASTINGS Hotels has a n n o u n c e d t h e appointment of Jake McHugh as General Manager of the 5-star Grand Central Hotel.
HAYS Travel retail employees in Northern Ireland enjoyed a lively ‘loco’
Bingo. night,
celebrating their commitment and hard work over the past year.
More than 20 stores across the region gathered to acknowledge the impressive achievements, with skyrocketing sales and targets smashed.
The festivities took place at House Belfast, where staff experienced an evening filled with joy and celebration. The city centre venue welcomed over 100 Hays Travel employees for an evening of hospitality and drinks, highlighted by the exciting main event, Bingo Loco. The night’s theme was all about fun, and Bingo Loco certainly delivered! Guests danced to music from various decades while participating in several rounds of
Multiple staff members took home novelty prizes,
including air fryers,
cardboard cutouts, and 1 lucky staff member won a holiday for two to Paris! The night was filled with dance-offs, rave rounds, and a hilarious performance from the Bingo Loco team. Hosted by Hays Travel and organised
by NI Travel News, the event provided a fantastic opportunity for everyone to unwind and celebrate their hard work and dedication. Nicola Allison, NI Regional Sales Manager Hays Travel,
expressed her
gratitude to the team during the evening, particularly recognising store managers and the foreign exchange department.
Having lived abroad and worked in hotels in various positions for over two de ca de s, McHugh brings a wealth of knowledge and
experience to the role.
Following a two year apprenticeship in a London hotel, and a four year hospitality degree at the University of Westminster, McHugh embarked on what would become a successful career in hotel and hospitality management.
McHugh’s previous roles
include Head Concierge at Hyatt Carlton Tower in London and Front Office Manager at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Director of Rooms in Thailand and Korea and General Manager in Japan and the UK. With moves across China, Thailand, Japan,
ITT Future You Foundation Returns to Belfast!
The ITT Future You Foundation returned to Belfast, once again partnering with Belfast Metropolitan College as they hosted Future You Belfast 2025.
This event took place on Wednesday,2nd April 2025, at ICC Belfast, providing students across Northern Ireland with an immersive experience exploring careers in travel, tourism, and events. NI Travel News, along with a host of other sup- pliers across the industry, greeted students and chatted through future options and key notes for making their way into the travel and tour- ism industry.
Korea, Australia and Singapore, McHugh has travelled the world, honing and refining his skills across all areas of hospitality. In his new role, McHugh aims to maintain Grand Central’s position as the luxury destination of choice in the city center, fueling innovative culinary developments at well-loved Seahorse and The Observatory as well as upholding excellent service standards across all aspects of the hotel. e finest hotels in Northern Ireland.” Speaking on his appointment, McHugh
said, “I’m delighted to join the Grand Central Hotel and excited to enhance its position as one of Belfast’s most iconic hotels. My vision is to elevate our food and beverage offering with innovative
menus, a Chef’s Table
experience, and a greater focus on local ingredients. We’ll also introduce more live music to create a vibrant atmosphere and expand our concierge service with bespoke itineraries showcasing Belfast’s best. I look forward to leading the team in delivering exceptional experiences for our guests.”
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