By Business & Finance 
Pictured: Madeline Riley
Madeline Riley is CEO of Luxor Leisure Ltd and General Manager of the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin.
What was your first job?
My professional career in hospitality started 30 years ago in the The Gresham Hotel, Dublin. I worked as a receptionist – it was from there my love of people grew, and of course my customer service skills improved! There was a lot to juggle at Front of House, so I had the opportunity to experience many different moving parts of a hotel’s operation.
What pushed you to pursue a career in this field?
I’ve always been a people-person, so one thing I knew for sure is that I wanted to work in an environment that allowed me to meet new people. I also liked the idea of working in a fast-paced role where no two days were the same.
What would you regard as your greatest achievement to date?
Working for Luxor Leisure since 2007 as pre-opening Director of Sales & Marketing, it was a career highlight to be appointed CEO of Luxor Leisure in 2021. This role has brought me to oversee the entire complex, which now includes the Dublin Royal Convention Centre, Velvære Spa and Old Town Café. These developments are projects I’ve been involved with since the design & planning phases, so to see these properties come to life is something I will always be very proud of.
Career wise, would you do anything differently?
I wouldn’t do anything differently. I’ve always taken risks and it’s something I’ve encouraged my children to do since a young age. If you don’t try something – whether it be a new hobby or part-time job – you’ll just never know. Life is short and I believe there is no room for ‘what-ifs’.
In one sentence, how would you define success?
For me, success has been about finding the perfect balance between work and personal life. You have to love the job that you do and everything else will fall into place.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Whether that’s personal or work life, there’s always someone on-hand that can help or will know how to manage something you can’t. Never be complacent and always look at new ways of improving the business.
How do you motivate yourself and your staff?
Our service philosophy at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel is simple – Yes I Can! Every day, we work hard to create and celebrate the memorable moments that make our clients and guests’ occasion special. This is a philosophy we have adopted across the Le Pole Square complex, and there is nothing more rewarding than knowing a client has had a successful conference or a memorable overnight experience with the help of our hard-work and little touches that make a big difference.
How do you handle adversity?
Two tips: stay calm and listen! Whether it’s a guest, client or employee, 99% of things can always be resolved when you listen to one another.
How do you relax?
When you work in a fast-paced job, it’s so important to take time out and have something to look forward to. For me, my family is top priority when it comes to downtime and I always like to have a fun day out or holiday marked ahead in the calendar to work towards.
What are your aspirations for the future of the business?
As a leading hotel and venue, we’re always considering ways to improve our offering and deliver something exceptional, whether that’s an experience or new way of operating the business, and always take our client and guest feedback on board. For us, Le Pole Square is more than just a development, it is a regeneration of one of the oldest parts of Dublin, Dublin 8, and I’m excited to see what opportunities this brings for us as a tourist attraction and landmark on the map of Dublin. We now have an offering not only for tourists and delegates but locals and neighbours – embedding our business more into our local community.
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