Meet the Senior Team at Castleknock Hotel – the visionary leaders behind our commitment to exceptional hospitality.

 

 

Syed Rizvi

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General Manager

Starting Date - August 2019

• Job Outline Overall responsibility for overseeing the financial performance, strategy, and overall development of every facet within the hotel. Collaborating closely with the Senior Team on a daily basis, I am dedicated to the ongoing enhancement of our standards, product offerings, reinvestment initiatives, staff well-being, and the professional growth of our team members. Regularly, I provide weekly updates to David Kelly, CEO of FBD Hotels and resorts. 
• My path to my current role I Studied in Shannon College of Hotel Management and worked in Nuremore Hotel during my training. On completion of my college, I worked in all areas of Hotel departments and since graduating I have worked in different roles in 4 and 5 star hotels including Fitzpartick Castle, The Gibson and Intercontinental Hotel. I joined Castleknock Hotel in August 2019 as Hotel Manager and took over the role as General Manager on 1st January 2024.
• What I like most about my job  Ensuring excellent guest experience. Motivating and building strong teams throughout the Hotel. I enjoy introducing new concepts and standards in our ever-changing hospitality iundustry. What I like most is working with passionate and highly motivated teams.

 

Mohammad Nouman

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Financial Controller

Starting Date - November 2018

• Job Outline As the Financial Controller, I am responsible for the overall financial operations at Castleknock Hotel. My responsibilities include managing all accounting activities and ensuring accuracy in the books and that they comply with statutory reporting requirements. A vital part of my role is to provide timely and accurate financial information to support strategic and operational decisions. As FC, I ensure that the needs of all the stakeholders are met, which include payroll for staff, supplier payments, maintaining adequate cash flow for the hotel operation.
• My path to my current role I started my accounting career from Huawei, Islamabad, Pakistan after completion of my BBA honours Degree in Accounting and Finance. After completion of my Masters degree in Accounting & Finance in 2018, I joined Castleknock Hotel as Account Assistant. I completed my certification in Forensic Account in 2020 and was also moved to the position of income auditor. I was promoted to the position of Assistant Financial Controller in June 2022 and then promoted to Financial Controller position in March 2025.
• What I like most about my job I appreciate the dynamic work environment, the opportunity for personal and professional growth, and the ability to interact with diverse individuals. I enjoy diving into the numbers, solving challenges, and finding smarter ways to make finance work for the business. What drives me, is seeing how solid financial processes make a real impact. The supportive team atmosphere fosters collaboration and camaraderie among colleagues, making it a positive place to work.

 

Annemarie Hayes

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Director of Sales & Marketing

Starting Date - January 2015

• Job Outline I oversee the running of the Sales & Marketing Department within the hotel and with the help of my team. We work towards promoting the hotel to achieve sales targets and the ability to execute effectively a focused sales & marketing plan for the agreed market segments of local & global corporate, meetings, events & leisure.
• My path to my current role I have over 20 years experience working within the Sales & Marketing departments within hotels with my most recent roles were with The Johnstown Estate & Carton House. I started in Castleknock Hotel as Business Development Manager and worked within this role for 5 years until I then took over the role as Director of Sales & Marketing.
• What I like most about my job I like the fact that no two days are the same, the job is very challenging and very rewarding. I very much enjoy the sales element of the role and building relationships with clients in order to help achieve our annual budgets.

 

Catherine O'Rourke

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Head of HR and People

Starting Date - July 2016

• Job Outline Overall responsibility for all aspects of Human Resources, recruitment, learning & development, culture, people, compliance, employee engagement & wellbeing and reward, uniforms, canteen, social events, HR strategy and everything else that happens on a daily basis.
• My path to my current role I have over 25 years of experience working in Hotels. I graduated in hospitality Management from TU Dublin and also in Human Resources (a few years later). My Hotel career started in the accounts department and I began a trainee manager manager programme experencing all departments. I worked my way up to Senior Manager in operations and decided to focus on HR where I moved to a HR administrator role and progressed to HR Manager.
• What I like most about my job People and hospitality! Every day is different! I enjoy the diversity of the challenges that we face daily and I find that working with such an amazing and talented team is a very rewarding role.

 

 Shane O'Neill

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Executive Chef

Starting Date - July 2023

• Job Outline Food Quality, Food Production, Food Profitability, Menu Design, Menu Evolution, Sustainability, HACCP.
• My path to my current role From summer jobs aged 14, through catering college in Athlone RTC, right up until now; I have worked in kitchens or in associated food business my entire working career. I have been lucky to work with some incredible mentors in some incredible Restaurants, Hotels, Cafe's and Gastropubs both here in Ireland and in the UK. I have absorbed much knowledge from each of these places and I look forward to developing dishes at Castleknock Hotel with the talented team that showcase this experience.
• What I like most about my job I really enjoy talking to all the team and understanding their ideas and creative sides. I try to assist each team member's development where they can create food that everyone in the hotel can be proud to serve and customers are delighted to eat and enjoy.

 

 John Havel

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Marketing Manager

Starting Date - October 2019

• Job Outline I am responsible for developing, implementing and executing strategic marketing plans for Castleknock Hotel in order to attract potential guests and retain existing ones. This includes the creation, implementation and management of online and offline marketing and advertising strategies to help drive engagement, brand profile and revenue growth. I work closely with internal and external stakeholders and responsible for brand management and corporate identity ensuring consistency of brand messages across all media.
• My path to my current role I have 10+ years of experience in the digital space working in a broad range of sectors. I gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Media Production, specialising in Project Management and Global Digital Marketing, and Technology, Development and Innovation through DIT. I was shortlisted in Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) Competition ‘Best New Ideas Category’ (2014) for The Contact Hub, a multi-channel customer service support agency providing contact centre and creative agency solutions which I worked on for 2 years before joining the hospitality industry.
• What I like most about my job There’s no such thing as a typical day! It’s a fast-paced environment so it’s important to prioritise each day. It means I’m kept very busy - but it’s amazing to work across such a diverse range of tasks. I am constantly challenged here at Castleknock Hotel, but that is part of the fun.

 

 

Valerie Boland

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Revenue Manager

Starting Date - November 2005

• Job Outline Effective rooms management, maximising total room sales potential within the hotel. Managing and ensuring efficent running of the Reservations Department. Managing and ensuring efficiant running of the Reservations Department. Managing of all rate plans/packages .To achieve Targets and Budgets in Room Revenue, Occupancy & ADR (Average Daily Rate).
• My path to my current role Completed a Degree in Hospitality Management and started in the hotel in 2005 as a Receptionist, became Reception Manager in 2011, moved to the Reservations Department as Assistant Reservations Manager in 2015 and promoted to Revenue Manager in 2019.
• What I like most about my job Every day is different! Working as a team to make Castleknock Hotel the place to stay!

 

 

 

Fatih Maytalman

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Hotel Manager 

Starting Date -July 2022

• Job outline As the Hotel Manager at Castleknock Hotel, I am entrusted with the overall responsibility for the successful operation and management of the hotel. My role encompasses leading and inspiring high-performing teams, enhancing guest experiences, driving operational excellence, and ensuring the seamless day-to-day activities of the hotel.
• My path to current role With over twenty years of experience in the hospitality industry, my journey to becoming a Hotel Manager has been marked by continuous growth and development. I began my career by studying at a Hospitality and Tourism High School in Turkey and worked as a trainee in a hotel for two years and then as a waiter in various international restaurants.When I moved to Ireland, I worked with two well-known catering companies while pursuing my International Hospitality Management degree at Griffith College. I completed an internship with a 5 star hotel in Dublin and completed a 2 year Trainee Managers Program , working in all departments of a 4 star hotel in Dublin. I then progressed through various roles including Assistant Restaurant Manager, Restaurant Manager, Food and Beverage Manger, Senior Assistance Manger, and Hotel Operations before assuming the role of Hotel Manager.
• What I like most about my job I am passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences and driving operational excellence. The dynamic hospitality industry keeps me engaged, and I thrive in the fast -paced environment of hotel management. Leading dedicated teams and witnessing our positive impact on guests is rewarding. I take pride in fostering a culture of excellence at Castleknock Hotel, creating memorable experiences, and supporting career development in our passionate staff. 

                                                                                                                            

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