Friday, 30th July 2010

HOTELIERS WELCOME SETTING UP OF RENEWAL IMPLEMENTATION GROUP

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) today welcomed the setting up by Minister Hanafin of an industry wide group to oversee and drive actions on measures to support tourism in Ireland. IHF President Mr Paul Gallagher states that tourism must remain to the fore of Government policy and decision making if Ireland’s largest indigenous industry is to play its full role in the recovery of the Irish economy.

In particular, Mr Gallagher welcomes the commitment shown by Minister Hanafin in chairing the Renewal Implementation Group and the Government’s acknowledgement of the importance of maintaining investment in overseas marketing. Mr Gallagher also welcomed the appointment of John Raftery, chairman of the Irish Hotels Federation Marketing Committee and proprietor of the Downhill Inn Hotel, Ballina, Co. Mayo to the Group.

Commenting on disappointing overseas visitor numbers for May, Mr Gallagher states that today’s figures from the Central Statistics Office offer little comfort to the tourism sector and serve to highlight further the severe trading environment that hotels and guesthouses continue to face. With hotel occupancy levels at historic lows, the Federation states that maintaining investment in international marketing must remain a priority into 2011, particularly for the important British market which has collapsed over the last two years.

ENDS

FOR INFORMATION:

Eoin Quinn                                          Tel: 01 6760168

Weber Shandwick                              Mobile: 087 233 2191