Local duo appointed to key roles at famed hotel group

TWO Killyclogher men have been appointed to key roles within Hastings Hotels.

James McGinn has been appointed as the new managing director of the group, which includes the Europa Hotel, while Niall Burns has been named as new general manager of the Culloden Estate & Spa, on the outskirts of Belfast.

Mr McGinn, who became a familiar face to TV viewers across the North when he starred in the popular BBC series ‘Lobby Lives’, has replaced Howard Hastings, who is the group’s new chairman.

Previously operations director and general manager of the Europa Hotel, the Tyrone man said he never envisaged that one day he would be at the helm of the world-famous company.

He said, “I’m very excited for the group’s future and I would like to thank my fellow directors for entrusting me with the job of driving forward Northern Ireland’s leading collection of hotels.”

career

One of the leading figures in Northern Ireland’s hospitality industry, Mr McGinn started his career at the age of 15 when he worked at the Knock-na-moe Castle Hotel in Omagh as waiter and barman where his uncle was General Manager.

During his 25-year tenure with the Hastings family, starting in 1996, he was able to attend and graduate from the distinguished hotel school at the University of Cornell in New York.

Meanwhile, fellow Killyclogher man Niall Burns is replacing Andy McNeill at the helm of the Culloden, located on the outskirts of Belfast.

Mr Burns previously worked for Hastings Hotels as the deputy general manager of the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa, and most recently as the general manager of Lyrath Estate in County Kilkenny.

In 2013 he was recognised as one of the leading up-and-coming hospitality managers by The LCN Magazine and was awarded the Trainee Manager of The Year Title. While resort beverage manager at the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa, Mr Burns won the Bar Manager of the Year title at the Institute of Hospitality Awards in 2015.