Hotel chain expands across the country

At the age of 14, Philip Gavin was a horseracing enthusiast who seemed destined to become a jockey.

But the man from Tramore, Co Waterford had to put aside a career in the saddle after he grew to over six feet tall. He chose hotel management instead.

Gavin is now managing director of the Talbot Hotel Group and has recently overseen a €10 million redevelopment programme at the firm's Dublin hotel, the Stillorgan ...