The Work

Industry Summary: Ireland's Racecourses

Many racecourses are owned by local bodies, including companies, trusts and charitable organisations, meaning their objectives are not concentrated solely on profit maximisation.  Four racecourses – Leopardstown, Navan, Fairyhouse and Tipperary – are owned by HRI, with the remainder independently owned.  The majority of racecourses host both Jump and Flat racing with some prominent exceptions, including the Curragh - Ireland’s premier Flat racing venue and Punchestown, which hosts the leading Jumps festival.  The only All-Weather racecourse is at Dundalk, which enables Flat racing to take place all year round.

[Economic Impact of Irish breeding and racing 2017]

Main Duties

The role of the hospitality executive includes answering hospitality enquires and selling hospitality packages, processing hospitality bookings, preparing and recording tickets for distribution, managing customer complaints, liaising with the caterers in advance of each race meeting and providing reports on customer feedback on race days.

As most racecourses outsource their catering requirements, the role of hospitality executive is combined with membership or marketing.  Duties may include conducting telesales campaigns in the lead up to key events; responsibility to grow, administer and enhance the membership of the racecourse; processing membership renewals; assisting in marketing and design of membership communications.

Main Duties

The role of the hospitality executive includes:

Answering hospitality enquires and selling hospitality packages

Processing hospitality bookings, preparing and recording tickets for distribution

Managing customer complaints

Liaising with the caterers in advance of each race meeting

Providing reports on customer feedback on race days.

As most racecourses outsource their catering requirements, the role of hospitality executive is combined with membership or marketing.  Duties may include:

Conducting Sales & Marketing campaigns in the lead up to key events with responsibility to grow, administer and enhance the membership of the event/ venue/ Racecourse

Processing membership renewals

Assisting in marketing and design of membership communications

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Analyse and record personnel or operational data and write related activity reports.
• Apply customer feedback to service improvement efforts.
• Assign work schedules, following work requirements, to ensure quality and timely delivery of service.
• Collaborate with staff members to plan or develop programs of events or schedules of activities.
• Direct or coordinate the activities of entertainment and recreation related workers.
• Furnish customers with information on events or activities.
• Inform workers about interests or special needs of specific groups.
• Inspect work areas or operating equipment to ensure conformance to established standards in areas such as cleanliness or maintenance.
• Meet with managers or other supervisors to stay informed of changes affecting workers or operations.
• Observe and evaluate workers' appearance and performance to ensure quality service and compliance with specifications.

Further Information

• Racecourse Hospitality Executive - from: Horse Racing Ireland
• Racecourse Hospitality Executive - from: Horse Racing Ireland
• Racecourse Hospitality Executive - from: Horse Racing Ireland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Qualifications or Training may vary to start a career as a Hospitality Executive. Many new entrants to the industry have a qualification in Hospitality Management. There are many opportunities to study Hospitality Management with courses ranging from NFQ Level 5 through to Level 9 on the NFQ. 

Training & develoment 

FET Centre PLC Courses: Hospitality, Sales, Business & Marketing at NFQ Level 5-6 Search FET PLC

Apprenticeship Sales Apprenticeship NFQ level 6 Search apprenticeship

Higher Education CAO entry: Hospitality, Business & Marketing NFQ Level 6-8 Search CAO 

Professional Development & sector 

Postgraduate opportunities include Hospitality & event management NFQ Level 9 master programmes

Hospitality & Tourism sector

Equuip careers in Horse Racing 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €35k - €55k

Generally, the amount of pay you receive for working is a matter of agreement between you and your employer.  Salaries vary based on employer, location, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Excel / Indeed

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment grew strongly for this occupation between 2021 and 2022, resulting in an above average annual growth rate for the five-year period. In the CSO Census data for 2022, marketing and sales directors accounted for 52% of employment in this occupation, purchasing managers/directors for 41%, and advertising and public relations directors for 8%.

The difficult-to-fill mentions in the Recruitment Agency Survey related to procurement managers. Employers (Skills for Growth and Spotlight on Skills) have pointed to difficulties in recruiting marketing managers, with digital marketing (including social media), communication and leadership skills in particular demand, Employment permits were primarily issued for sales/marketing directors in ICT, and procurement and supply chain managers/directors across various sectors. However, the number of advertisements in the OVATE data declined for this occupation between 2021 and 2022. Demand is likely to persist, particularly for those with digital advertising/marketing and sales skills, although the restructuring currently taking place in the broad ICT sector may dampen future growth.

Horse Racing Ireland: Social & Economic impacts report 2023

The Irish Breeding and Racing industry supports 30,350 full time equivalent (FTE) staff in total. This includes 9,400 jobs directly related to the industry. Over 40% of these (c.3,950 FTEs) work in breeding operations, closely followed by c.3,000 FTE stable-staff, trainers and point-topoint handlers (c.800), caterers (c.350), jockeys, agents and valets (c.300) and racecourse staff (c.300). A further c.7,000 jobs are attributable to directly related employment. This includes individuals in equine-related roles like veterinarians and farriers, as well as those working in related agricultural, and leisure roles. Total non-betting employment was 24,800 in 2022, up c.8% when compared to the 22,900 supported by the industry in 2016.

Secondary employment is estimated to total c.8,400 and includes roles that are supported by further spending in the Irish economy (the ‘ripple effect’). This supports jobs in the likes of the travel and accommodation sectors and the bar and restaurant trade. Furthermore, the betting sector in Ireland is intrinsically linked to Irish racing, and many fewer individuals would be employed should racing cease to exist.

The sector is estimated to employ c.5,550 FTEs, across individuals working in LBOs and the Head Offices of betting operators.Given that Ireland has a large proportion of its population residing in rural communities, agriculture holds a high level of significance, with the Breeding and Racing industry being a significant  contributor to agricultural employment. It also supports jobs in farriery, horse transport and veterinary/equine health.

Directly related employment relates to those jobs that whilst being heavily reliant on the Breeding and Racing industry, also serve other industry sectors and sub-sectors. These can include equine-related roles such as veterinarians and farriers, as well as roles in agriculture, leisure, and hospitality. This is estimated to total c.7,000 in 2022.

• Careers & Racing Education (CARE)

  • Horse Racing Ireland Ballymany, The Curragh, Co. Kildare, Ireland, R56 XE37
  • (045) 455 455
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Horse Racing Ireland (HRI)

  • Ballymany, The Curragh, Co. Kildare, Ireland, R56 XE37
  • (045) 455 455
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• The Association of Irish Racecourses GLG

  • 63 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2.
  • (01)-6760911
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here