Daly Recruitment supports Ulster University’s emerging luxury hospitality talent as Northern Ireland’s premium tourism offering grows during Hospitality and Tourism Week 2026

On 30 September 2026, Daly Recruitment met with students as part of Northern Ireland Hospitality and Tourism Week. The session focused on inspiring the next generation of hospitality professionals and sharing insight into the wide range of career opportunities, progression routes and earning potential within the industry.

As part of the week, which ran from 25 September to 2 October, Daly Recruitment Director Nichola Daly joined second-year BSc (Hons) International Hospitality Management students at Ulster University to recognise the ambition, professionalism and potential being developed through the programme.

Nichola met with students during their Hospitality Business Operations Management module to share insight from the luxury hospitality recruitment market, discuss career opportunities and provide practical advice on CV preparation, applications and taking the first steps towards a successful career in the sector.

Daly Recruitment proudly sponsors the module’s Front of House Restaurant Supervisory Award, which recognises the student who achieves the highest marks in the Front of House Restaurant Supervisory event.

The module provides valuable hands-on experience through students’ work in Ulster University’s state-of-the-art Academy Restaurant. It enables them to apply their learning in a live environment while developing the leadership, operational and guest-service skills needed to manage a busy restaurant setting.

As part of the award, the top-performing student receives a voucher to dine at a leading restaurant of their choice, offering the opportunity to experience exceptional hospitality from the guest’s perspective.

Nichola Daly, Director of Daly Recruitment, said:

“Luxury hospitality is defined by the people who deliver it. The students coming through our universities today will help shape the future of the industry, and it was inspiring to meet this group, hear about their ambitions and share practical insight into the opportunities available.

“At Daly Recruitment, we work with exceptional luxury hospitality employers across the UK and Ireland. We understand that employers are looking not only for technical capability, but for professionalism, confidence, attention to detail and a genuine commitment to creating outstanding guest experiences.

“Sometimes, a conversation or guidance at the right time can make a real difference to someone’s confidence and career direction. We want students to recognise the value of their studies and practical experience, and to feel equipped to pursue exciting opportunities both here in Northern Ireland and further afield.

“We are delighted to sponsor the Front of House Restaurant Supervisory Award. It is a fitting way to recognise the skill, commitment and leadership required to deliver exceptional service.

“Giving the winning student the chance to experience a leading restaurant as a guest is also important. In luxury hospitality, every detail matters from the warmth of the welcome to the quality and consistency of service and experiencing that first-hand can be incredibly valuable.”

Building pathways into luxury hospitality

The event gave students the opportunity to engage directly with a luxury hospitality recruitment specialist and gain a clearer understanding of what leading employers look for when recruiting emerging talent.

Student Amy Boylan said:

“It was great to have the opportunity to meet Nichola and hear more about the different career paths available within hospitality and tourism. The advice around preparing our CVs, highlighting our experience and recognising the skills we develop through our studies and practical work was really helpful.

“It was particularly useful to hear what employers and recruiters look for when reviewing applications, and how we can present ourselves confidently when applying for opportunities. Having that insight from someone working directly in the industry gives us a much better understanding of how to take the next steps in our careers.”

The impact of Daly Recruitment’s engagement with Ulster University students is already clear. Following last year’s event, Daly Recruitment worked with final-year student Luke Guy to secure him a supervisory position at the luxurious Chancery Rosewood London.

The appointment is a fantastic achievement for Luke and highlights the calibre of hospitality talent being developed through Ulster University’s programmes. It reflects the combination of academic learning, practical experience, professionalism and ambition required to build a career with leading international luxury hospitality brands.

Nichola added:

“Luke’s appointment at The Chancery Rosewood is an exceptional outcome and a real testament to his talent, commitment and potential. It also demonstrates the calibre of graduates coming through Ulster University.

“Creating meaningful connections between students and industry can open doors to remarkable opportunities. We are proud to support emerging talent and delighted to have played a part in helping Luke take this exciting next step in his luxury hospitality career.”

Connecting education and industry

Simon Russell, Deputy Head of Department – Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management at Ulster University, said:

“Building strong relationships between education and industry is incredibly important in preparing our students for successful careers in hospitality and tourism.

“Through the practical experience they gain in our state-of-the-art Academy Restaurant, students develop the skills, confidence and understanding of exceptional guest service that employers value.

“Having industry professionals like Nichola engage directly with our students brings an additional dimension to their learning, offering valuable career insights and practical advice as they prepare to enter the workplace. We are grateful to Daly Recruitment for supporting our students through the Front of House Restaurant Supervisory Award and helping us recognise and celebrate their achievements.”

The Academy Restaurant plays an important role in students’ development, providing a professional environment in which they can apply their academic learning and gain practical experience of the standards and expectations associated with front-of-house service.

For Daly Recruitment, supporting emerging talent and creating stronger links between education and industry forms an important part of its wider commitment to the hospitality and tourism sector.

Nichola added:

“It is so important that we continue to connect education with industry and give students a real insight into the opportunities ahead of them.

“Meeting this year’s students during Hospitality and Tourism Week 2026 has been inspiring. They have so much potential, and we are delighted to support them, share our experience and hopefully play a small part in helping them build exciting careers within hospitality and tourism.”

As luxury hospitality continues to grow, investing in and developing exceptional talent will be essential to meeting the increasing demand for world-class guest experiences.

About Hospitality and Tourism Week NI

Hospitality and Tourism Week NI takes place from 25 September to 2 October 2026. It celebrates the positive contribution that hospitality and tourism make across Northern Ireland, recognising the people, businesses and future talent at the heart of the sector.

The week is supported by Tourism Northern Ireland, Hospitality Ulster, the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance (NITA), Tourism Ireland, the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF), Belfast Met and Ulster University.

About Academy Restaurant:

Ulster University’s Academy Restaurant is a professional training restaurant where students develop their skills in a live hospitality environment. It gives future industry professionals the opportunity to gain practical experience in service, operations and guest care, while working alongside experienced staff.

The restaurant is also open to the public, offering guests the chance to enjoy a high-quality dining experience while supporting the development of the next generation of hospitality talent.

It showcases the range of career opportunities available, promotes collaboration between education and industry, and highlights the vital role the sector plays in Northern Ireland’s economy, communities and visitor experience.