Number of visitors to Ireland up 7% in April

According to the Central Statistics Office, overseas tourist numbers were up 7% in April 2026. The average length of each stay rose to just under a week, and total spend by tourists increased by 15%. It’s welcome news for hospitality. And as tourism industries support 10% of Ireland’s jobs, an increase in tourists is good news for workers too. 

There are natural ebbs and flows in staffing needs for hospitality. So, how do you make sure your premises are staffed when they need to be? 

Shifts and rotas for hospitality staff 

Consider shifts and rotas software that you can tailor to peak service periods and support with unexpected sickness and absence. If you need to make last-minute rota changes or open up a shift, you can notify all of your staff with one click. And they can accept or decline instantly from their own device. So, you can keep it fair with no pressure. 

With BrightHR software, you can view the complete cost of each shift you schedule before you commit. Using accurate cost projections, you can plan budgets confidently, and reduce overspending through smarter scheduling. 

Contracts for seasonal staff 

If you’re looking at seasonal staff, don’t forget temporary staff have the same rights as permanent employees. Your contracts need to be clear about overtime rates, duration of contract, and the reasons a contract might end early.  

You can avoid an unfair dismissal claim with a legally compliant contract. Check out BrightBase, a document library of 400+ expert-written contracts, handbooks and policies. And you’ll have access to 24/7 experts, so you can get advice about employment matters whenever you need it. 

Training for the hospitality industry 

Another consideration for all staff in the hospitality industry is training. Training temporary hospitality staff can be costly, especially if they have to travel to different premises for in-person training. But health & safety training is necessary to safeguard your workers in industries like hospitality and catering. 

You can stay on the right side of the HSA and keep your workers safe with CPD-accredited e-learning from BrightHR. With a digital audit trail of who’s completed their courses, you can make sure your teams are protected and up to date.  And the BrightSafe On The Go app means they can complete health & safety training at any time, report risks and accidents, and reach health & safety experts 24/7 for peace of mind. 

Working Time Regulations 

Legally, you need to record everyone’s hours. Try a clocking in and out software like Blip to make sure you’re compliant with the Working Time Regulations. You can check everyone’s taking their breaks and getting enough rest. 

By setting a geofence, you can send your teams a reminder to clock in and out when they get to work. If they don’t want to use their phones, they can clock in from their PC. 

How BrightHR can help 

Increased visitors should be a boost to your bottom line, not an added cost. And by managing hospitality staff well, you can reduce turnover and associated recruitment and training costs. 

Find out how you can save money and time with smarter people management technology and top-rated software for managing hotels and restaurants. 

Find out more and book a free demo here.