News

Doyle closes all hotels

The Doyle Collection has announced that it has temporarily suspended operations at all of its properties due to COVID-19. wstbury0320

The group issued a statement saying, "At this point in time, bookings on a fully flexible basis may be made at our hotels for dates from May 18th onwards.

"Thank you for your loyalty and support. We truly look forward to welcoming you as a valued Discovery member to one of our hotels soon again.

"In the meantime, on behalf of the entire team at The Doyle Collection, we hope that you, your colleagues, family and friends remain safe and healthy during the coming period."

The Doyle Collection operates Dublin's Westbury and Croke Park hotels, Cork's River Lee hotel, London's Marylebone, Bloomsbury and Kensington hotels, The Bristol hotel in Bristol, and The Dupont Circle hotel in Washington DC.

Wetherspoon asks for bills delay

Pub chain JD Wetherspoon wants to suspend payments to its Irish food and drink suppliers and has paused its developments on new sites in Dublin, Galway and Waterford. fortyft0320

In an email message to suppliers, chairman Tim Martin asks them to hold off payment demands until the London Stock Exchange-listed group's bars are back in business.

"We are asking for a moratorium on payments until the pubs reopen, at which point we intend to clear outstanding payments within a short time frame," Mr Martin writes.

"We understand this puts significant pressure on our suppliers, but we are kindly asking for your assistance during this very difficult period.

"A number of our suppliers have already offered assistance and we would be most grateful for your co-operation as well."

Flogas backs 'Cuppa' campaign

Flogas, as Official Energy Partner to the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, is supporting its new #CallThemForACuppa campaign, launched to encourage the public to phone thos menssheds0320 e who are socially isolated during COVID-19. Many older people have socially isolated themselves to reduce the risk of contracting the virus and the Irish Men’s Sheds Association is highlighting that while people can’t call in, they can make a phone call.

Barry Sheridan, chief executive of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, said, “We’re delighted to have Flogas as our energy partner for LPG, natural gas and electricity as we always say that the ‘kettle is the most important tool in the shed’. A key part of any day in a shed is gathering around the table, having a cup of tea and a chat. The next time you’re sitting down for a cuppa, think of someone who is at risk of social isolation and give them a call.”

Dalata to close some hotels

Dalata Hotel Group expects its revenue in the quarter to the end of March to be down about 16% compared to the same time last year due to the "unprecedented" Covid-19 mccann0320 situation.It said the combination of major public events being cancelled, the introduction of travel restrictions and the redefining of the use of hotels by both the Irish and UK governments has severely impacted the business over the last two week.

"We expect that to continue for as long as the current restrictions on movement and travel remain," the hotel group said.

In a trading update, Dalata also said that it will have to temporarily close several of its hotels in Ireland and the UK over the coming days and significantly reduce operating capacity at its remaining hotels.

Park may close until 2021

The owner of Tayto Park hopes that the theme park will reopen in August - but fears that it may not until April 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak. taytopk0320

Prior to the Covid-19 emergency, Tayto Park owner Raymond Coyle had pencilled in this Saturday for the reopening of the park, which generates around €19m in revenues per annum and attracts over 500,000 visitors.

Mr Coyle said in an interview that he hoped that the park may be in a position to reopen in August but conceded that it may now be the following April.

He said Tayto Park has already stalled the recruitment of 360 seasonal workers for the park's peak summer months.

He said that he was not qualified to say when the park would reopen.

"We will have to be guided by the HSE, Government and the developments around the coronavirus," he said.