Pat and Marie Chawke
General ManagersNot satisfied with one excellent General Manager, Aghadoe Heights Hotel has managed to secure two of Ireland’s best!
Hoteliers Marie and Pat Chawke took over the management of Aghadoe in 2000. This husband and wife team were appointed as joint General Managers to re-enforce Aghadoe’s reputation as one of the finest 5-Star Hotels in Ireland.
Marie Chawke, a native of Limerick and a graduate of Shannon College of Hotel Management, began her career at the Grand Hotel in Malahide, Co Dublin in 1993. In 1995 Marie, moved to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham as Sales and Marketing co-ordinator. She then joined Kay Randle’s team at the Randles Court Hotel in Killarney, in 1997. She worked at Randles Court Hotel for over three years and held a number of positions including General Manager prior to moving to Hayfield Manor in Cork City as General Manager in 1999. Under Marie’s management, Hayfield Manor Hotel archived the RAC Gold Ribbon award and also Four Red Diamonds from the AA.
In 1999 Marie moved to Aghadoe Heights Hotel where she over saw the refurbishment in conjunction with Peter Johnston and Anne O’Reilly. Marie is responsible for details and takes a keen interest in making sure that guests truly enjoy the ‘Aghadoe Experience’.
Pat Chawke, from Co Wexford, started his Hotel career at the The Three Lakes Hotel in Killarney in 1990. After two years at the Three Lakes, Pat left Killarney for a year and returned to work as Deputy General Manager at the Killarney Great Southern Hotel and held this position from 1993-1996. In 1996, Pat was promoted by Great Southern Hotel to the position of General Manager at the Corrib Great Southern in Galway. He then spent a further two years as General Manager of Maryborough House Hotel in Douglas, Cork City before returning to Killarney in 2000. Until recently Pat was Chairman of Cork Regional Marketing and he also is a member of the Irish Hotels Federation National Council.
In 1999 Pat moved to Aghadoe and bought his ethos with him “ I believe that at whatever standard you operate, it should be clean and work properly each time. I believe that people matter. Directors, staff, customers and suppliers all have ideas that can help the business and are all potential sales people. Treat staff as individuals and they will treat individuals like kings”.
Pat and Marie were introduced to each other at the Killarney Races by Bernadette Randles of The Dromhall Hotel. The couple married in January 2000.