The Irish Hotels Federation has welcomed the appointment of Paul O'Toole as Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland.
The new all island tourism body is seen as a significant step in the history of Irish tourism.
The president of the IHF, Mary Fitzgerald, said Mr O'Toole 'will lead the devising of an all-Ireland approach to positioning the country as an attractive tourist destination harnessing tourism expertise and resources both North and South.'
The IHF said Mr O'Toole was the type of person needed at a stage when the tourist industry needs 'to consolidate the success of the last decade, whilst counter-balancing recent events which have impacted on the tourism season'.
Mr O'Toole is a certified accountant and has worked at Bord Failte for the past eleven years in a number of different roles.
Tourism Ireland Ltd was established under the framework of the Belfast Agreement of Good Friday 1998 to promote increased tourism to the island of Ireland. It will carry out all-Ireland destination marketing in all overseas markets.
