More than Meets the Eye: Ireland’s Experience Economy

The Experience Economy is a diverse and substantial part of Irish life and plays an important role in Ireland’s international reputation as a place to live, work and visit.

In this episode we will discuss the scale of Ireland's Experience Economy, Ibec’s ambitions for its growth, and recommendations to Government for further support. We are joined by Sharon Higgins, Ibec Executive Director of Membership and Sectors, and Pat McCann, Non-Executive Director of Glenveagh Properties and Former Dalata Hotel Group CEO. The pair also provide a retrospective on the activity of Ibec’s Experience Economy Committee during the pandemic, and advice to businesses on how to access supports available. 

Pat McCann started in 1969 with Ryan Hotel Group plc and later joined Jurys Hotel Group plc in 1989. He rose to the position of Chief Executive in 2000 and retired from Jurys Doyle in 2006. However, retirement did not slow Pat down, and he founded the Dalata Hotel Group in 2007, which went on to become the largest hotel group in Ireland. Besides his success in the hotel business, Pat has contributed significantly to various organisations. He served as President of Ibec from September 2019 to September 2020 and is a member of the Ibec Board. Despite retiring from Dalata at the end of 2021, Pat currently serves as Chair of the National Maternity Hospital and Glenveagh Properties plc and is involved with several private companies.

Explore Ibec’s Experience Economy campaign here.

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