‘The show must go on’: My 50-year journey at the heart of the Killyhevlin Hotel, from a daunting first day to a family legacy and an exciting new chapter

When I started working at the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen on April 5 1976, I could not have known it would become my life’s work.

It was the second hotel my parents, Archie and Pearl Watson, had bought. At the time they also owned the Drumsill Hotel in Armagh, where I had worked while I was at school and university, gaining experience across several departments including reception, accounts and administration.

My brother Rodney was running Drumsill, so I found myself at the Killyhevlin, supported by the hotel’s existing manager, Eric Armstrong. For me, it was a daunting responsibility at the time, but it also marked the beginning of an exciting journey for our family.

We quickly realised Killyhevlin’s potential and made the decision to sell the Drumsill so we could give it our full focus. Rodney joined me and the Killyhevlin and became very much the customer-facing presence of the business, while I was always happier working behind the scenes in a financial and administrative role.

My mother Pearl played a central role in the hotel until her retirement in 1992. We worked closely together and she was very much my rock. So much of what the Killyhevlin is today, comes from the standards and determination she instilled in us. Her motto was always ‘the show must go on’ and in hospitality that attitude matters.

My late brother Rodney's wife, Leigh, has been a great support and continues to play a key role in the development and growth of the hotel.

Over the past 50 years, there have been many milestones. When we first purchased the Killyhevlin, it was a three-star hotel with 27 bedrooms and 14 chalets. Today, it is a four-star hotel with 71 bedrooms, 32 self-catering lodges and studios, a spa and leisure facilities.

That growth has come through continual reinvestment, careful planning and the loyalty of an exceptional team. We now employ around 160 people, and I am very proud of the key role the hotel plays in tourism and the wider local community.

Of course, no business journey is without difficult days. We traded through the Troubles and more recently through the Covid-19 pandemic, which was one of the toughest periods our industry has ever faced. There have also been personal losses along the away, including saying goodbye to people who were central to the business and to our family, Mother and Rodney.

The highs have been very special. Seeing major refurbishments completed, opening our lodges and studios, hosting important family celebrations for our guests, receiving awards and reading letters of thanks from customers.

This year is particularly significant as we mark 50 years of our family’s ownership of the Killyhevlin. It also comes at a time of change as my daughters Nicola (Varvari) and Gillian (Gray) have recently been appointed directors of the hotel.

They have both grown up with the hotel as part of their lives and they understand that it is much more than a business. It is part of our family story, but also part of the wider Fermanagh community.

Nicola has worked in the business for almost 20 years, although hospitality was not originally her planned career. What started as a summer job while she was on another path became something she could never leave behind. She started in the grill bar and has gained extensive experience across many of the hotel’s departments. She now works as part of our managment team alongside Leigh Waton (my sister in law) David Morrison and Keith Thompson.

Gillian, who first worked as a waitress in the grill bar during university, has spent the past 22 years working in finance and accounting and brings strong expertise in strategic planning, capital finance, auditing management accounting and tax. She has also taken over my role as company secretary.

The Killyhevlin Hotel has always been a family business, but family alone is not enough. You also need commitment, knowledge and willingness to keep evolving. I know Nicola and Gillian both have that and together, we are looking forward to a new chapter for the Killyhevlin Hotel.