Newtownabbey: International hospitality leader joins McKeever Hotels with focus on 'ambitious growth strategy'
One of Ireland’s most prominent and experienced hospitality sector experts has been appointed to the board of McKeever Hotels.
With a career spanning 40 years, Stephen McNally brings significant strategic and commercial counsel to the family-owned group which is headquartered in Newtownabbey and operates seven properties across Northern Ireland and Donegal.
As founding director and deputy chief executive of the Dalata Hotel Group (2007 to 2022), Stephen was responsible for shaping the business, which today operates 57 hotels under the Clayton and Maldron hotel brands.
Prior to that, Stephen played a key role in the expansion of the Jury’s Doyle Hotel Group, culminating in his appointment to group general manager for 34 hotels across Ireland, UK and the USA.
In his early career he also gained extensive experience with the Ramada Hotel Group, completing their Management Training Development Programme and working for their properties across Germany and the UK for over six years.
After retiring from Dalata in 2022, Stephen founded SERLs Hospitality, providing specialist consultancy, advisory and hotel management services.
Furthermore, he is a non-executive director of Tourism Ireland and chairs the Tourism Partnership Board (TPB) on behalf of the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland. He also served as president of the Irish Hotels Federation from 2014 to 2016.
Stephen said: “I’ve been embedded in the sector for over 40 years, so I understand its value and appreciate how it has contributed so positively to Ireland’s economic growth. I now look forward to bringing this experience to McKeever Hotels and the wider sector in Northern Ireland.
“Tourism success is all about people, passion and commitment and I see these reflected in the McKeever culture. The board is open, honest and focused on its ambitious growth strategy and I look forward to helping this great team capitalise on its success to date and also seize the many opportunities ahead.”
Welcoming Stephen to the board, Eddie McKeever, managing director of McKeever Hotels commented: “We’ve come a long way in our 40-year history, particularly over the last decade, and the journey continues.
"Our current five-year strategy clearly identifies growth, performance and sustainability as our three key priorities and we know Stephen will help us achieve this by bringing his external perspective, global brand experience and big-picture thinking to the team.”