A VIEW FROM THE BOARD - MICHAEL CADDEN

17 September 2025

Michael Cadden (Pat's Bar, Lusty Beg Island Resort, and Enniskillen Hotel) appointed Chair of Hospitality Ulster. 

I first joined the board of Hospitality Ulster because it’s easy to stand by waiting for change, rather than contributing to the efforts to make change happen. I care deeply about our hospitality industry and wanted to help affect positive change in any way I could. It’s only when you roll up your sleeves and get into the nuts and bolts that you realise how much work goes into representing Northern Ireland’s hospitality industry. I thought I had a decent grasp of the issues from the outside, but the reality of building a case, gathering evidence, and getting government to listen is something else entirely.

I never set out to move through the ranks to Vice Chair and certainly not to Chair, but I found I enjoyed the work. Policy direction, strategy, and the opportunity to help steer the sector alongside a talented executive team drew me in more and more. It’s rewarding, if challenging, to be part of a group that is determined to give our industry the voice it deserves.

There is no denying that we face some serious headwinds. Chief among them is the need for recognition of our value at both Executive and Westminster level. Too often hospitality is dismissed as a low-income employer, when in fact it is a vibrant, creative sector that provides meaningful careers and unforgettable experiences for staff and customers alike. Breaking down that outdated perception is one of our biggest tasks.

At the same time, the tax burden continues to climb and inflation bites hard. Covid reminded us that unknown unknowns can appear overnight, so we must control what we can to ensure that our industry is in the best possible position to respond to situations outside our control. We are making progress on VAT and business rates reform – reforms that would give operators the breathing room to invest and grow – but the pressure is constant.

Travel has only sharpened my appreciation for what we have here. The quality of the welcome, the food, the service – Northern Ireland stands shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world. That is down to our people. Through Covid and the recent squeeze on costs they have shown incredible resilience. Given the right conditions – especially a lighter tax and rates load – they will reset and drive the growth we need to hit the tourism targets that the Executive has laid out.

Growth will come not only from investment but from developing and training our staff. If we invest in our people now, we build resilience for the future. As we look ahead, there is a real opportunity to widen our reach, to grow our membership across pubs, restaurants, cafés and hotels, and to make sure Hospitality Ulster remains current and responsive.

I never imagined I’d be sitting in the Chair’s seat, but I am proud to do so. Ours is an industry worth fighting for – valuable, vibrant and vital to Northern Ireland’s economy and culture – and I intend to do everything I can to make sure those in power understand that too.