A native of Co Carlow, Michael Lennon is a graduate of the College of Catering, Cathal Brugha Street. He began his career in Chicago before returning to Ireland, where he initially worked with the Great Southern Hotel Group before joining Brian McEniff Hotels. Together with his wife, Joanne McEniff, he owns and runs the Westport Woods Hotel, which they bought over twenty years ago. Michael has been an active member of the Mayo branch of the Irish Hotels Federation for over twenty years and was heavily involved in the establishment of the Destination Westport marketing group, he was elected president of the IHF in 2018.