The iNUA Hotel Collection Celebrates Six Years with Down Syndrome Ireland and Becomes Ireland’s First ValueAble-Certified Employer

The iNUA Hotel Collection and Down Syndrome Ireland are celebrating six years of partnership with the announcement that each hotel has been officially accredited by the European ValueAble Network, making the group the first Irish company to achieve this prestigious European certification for inclusive employment.

To mark this milestone, and kick-off Down Syndrome Awareness Month which takes place every October, The iNUA Hotel Collection hosted a special event at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Limerick, attended by some of the collection’s 25 Down Syndrome colleagues, their families, General Managers from across the group.

The ValueAble Network, co-funded by Erasmus+, promotes inclusive employment across eight European countries by connecting hotels with organisations that support individuals with intellectual disabilities. As part of this collaboration, the Radisson Blu Limerick welcomed four Italian students and two tutors from the ValueAble Network for a two-week Erasmus+ work placement, the first of its kind in Ireland.

The event featured a Heineken-led bar skills session in partnership with Assitiv, the Irish assistive technology company whose innovations are helping colleagues with Down Syndrome thrive in the workplace. Showcasing how technology can make hospitality roles more accessible, the training saw iNUA’s colleagues and the visiting Italian trainees used Assitiv Apple Watches programmed to break down tasks into simple, guided steps. When guests placed QR code orders at tables, notifications appeared on the watches, prompting colleagues to prepare and serve drinks with confidence and independence. The skills session highlighted how thoughtful technology and inclusive design can open meaningful career pathways and set new standards for accessibility in Irish hospitality.

“We are honoured to be Ireland’s first hotel group to achieve European ValueAble Certification,” said Sean O’Driscoll, CEO of The iNUA Hotel Collection. “Our partnership with Down Syndrome Ireland enters its sixth year and continues to deliver a tangible impact in communities nationwide with 25 colleagues now employed in our hotels. We are proud to now also welcome our first Erasmus participants from Italy through the ValueAble Network and to demonstrate how innovation and inclusion can work hand in hand.”

The European ValueAble Network is a hospitality initiative co-funded by Erasmus+ that promotes inclusive workplaces across eight European countries. It connects hotels with social partners to provide professional training and employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.

To follow the progress of The iNUA Collection’s partnerships with Down Syndrome Ireland and the European ValueAble Network, and to stay up to date on our latest fundraising, make sure to follow our socials.