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About the programme

Unlock your team’s potential with the Employer Excellence Programme

The Employer Excellence Programme is a two-year initiative designed to help tourism businesses build a culture of excellence in the workplace. If you recognise that motivated, well-supported employees are essential to delivering outstanding customer experiences and driving real business results, this programme is for you. Our goal is to help businesses strengthen their teams, enhance long-term success, and tackle one of the industry's biggest challenges: attracting and retaining top talent.

Since its inception in 2022, the programme has supported more than 300 businesses with over 30,000 employees experiencing tangible improvements in onboarding, communication, reward, benefit, and career development, all of which were cited as key issues amongst employees before the programme started.

By focusing on employee engagement, leadership development, and workplace appeal, we support businesses in creating environments where people are proud to work and where high performing talent wants to stay.

Employer Excellence is the mark that sets your business apart.

Ready to elevate your organisation?

Join now and begin your journey toward a culture of excellence.

Join the programme

How does it work?

The Employer Excellence Programme is a structured two-year journey designed to help tourism businesses strengthen team culture, improve retention, and enhance the overall employee experience. Below is a typical timeline of what to expect after registering.

What your time on the Programme will look like?

1. Management Training and Upskilling (All Year)
- Once enrolled, your team can access learniFI, our training platform designed for the tourism sector.
- Your training lead will receive a demonstration of learniFI including how to access learning content and how to manage your group.
- Goal: 70% of your people managers should complete the Fundamentals of People and Performance Management training in their first year of the programme.
2. Employee Surveys
- Most businesses complete their surveys during May to November.
- Surveys should be completed by November so that the business can be entered for our annual Employer Excellence Awards.
- You will receive full detailed results for your business from your survey provider but only your overall score is shared with Fáilte Ireland.
- Once results are in, you will be paired with a HR expert to begin action planning.
3. HR Consultant Support
HR clinics usually run early in the year, depending on when the employee survey was completed. Your HR expert will:
- Develop a tailored action plan specifically or your business.
- Follow up to support your progress and address any issues or strategic challenges you are facing.
4. Certification, Recognition & Awards
- Based on your survey results, Employer Excellence Programme certifications and plaques are awarded from January onwards, after your survey results are received.
- The Employer Excellence Awards event takes place annually in April/May.
- All businesses who have completed their survey by the previous November are entered for the awards.
- You will receive an invitation to Awards event to celebrate top performers.
5. Employer Exchange Event (November)
- You will receive an early invitation with details on expert-led sessions and key topics targeted at Senior Manager and Leadership level to help you learn from best practice and emerging trends both in Ireland and internationally.
- Held annually in November.
- Keep an eye out for other Employer Excellence Programme Events during the year.

Why join the Employer Excellence Programme?

Embed a culture of high performance through targeted and strategic supports.
Strengthen your employer brand and reputation and attract new talent.
Increase employee satisfaction to increase staff retention and drive excellent customer service, visitor experience and business performance
Improve management-employee relationships through best-in-class training for your supervisors and management team.
Achieve meaningful change through a customised action plan developed and supported by a dedicated HR mentor and tailored to your business.
Meet your employee engagement goals through our focused support, advice, and resources.

Receive annual recognised Employer Excellence Programme certification that can be displayed at your business and on your website.

Download the prospectus

View the accessible version of the prospectus here.

Your obligations

The programme is a 2-year commitment for your business.
An annual employee engagement survey is required from an approved survey provider. (link to list of providers)
70% of your management team must complete the Fundamentals of People and Performance Management in their first year of the programme.
See the Guidelines document for more information.