News

Fitzpatrick re-opens NY hotel

John Fitzpatrick has reopened his Fitzpatrick Manhattan hotel on Lexington Avenue in New York city on Monda 13 months after closing the property due to the impact of the Covid- fitzpatrickny 19 pandemic.

By late morning, the hotel group had sold 19 of its 91 bedrooms.

“It doesn’t sounds great but we’re very happy with it,” Mr Fitzpatrick told The Irish Times.

He said business was mostly leisure (people in other parts of the US travelling to New York for a break) with a “small bit of corporate”, adding that there is still little by way of international travel to the city and no Irish travelling to the city.

The hotel has about $150,000 (€124,000) worth of bookings for May and Mr Fitzpatrick is hopeful that the group’s occupancy rate will rise to 50 per cent in June and to 60-65 per cent in July and August, driven by the domestic market.

Pub and Hotel sue Insurer

Two new cases were brought before the Commercial Court against an insurance company which refused to provide compensation for business interruption insurance due to the pandemic.

Charlie's bar, Loughrea, Co Galway, operated by Charwin Ltd and the Old Imperial Hotel in Youghal, Co Cork, operated by Coachhouse Catering Ltd, have made separate claims against the Slovenia-based insurance company Zavarovalnica Sava. The Old Imperial’s company is also suing its Irish broker Frost Insurance, who acts as Frost Underwriting..

On Monday mr Justice David Barniville adjourned both cases to June for a hearing on an arbitration clause in the contracts asserted by the insurance company.

Fires ravage Killarney park

Further attempts are being made this morning to extinguish a fire at Killarney National Park. wildfire

The outbreak has already burned through almost 2,000 hectares.

Yesterday, two of three blazes were extinguished, with one area still ablaze in the East Ridge of Pepper Mountain, according to Chief Fire Officer Credit Andrew Macilwraith.

Ground crews were due to begin work at 6.30am while a Coast Guard helicopter is expected to carry out an aerial check at 8.30am.

The first fire, a "low-level fire" in an oak wood area, was extinguished yesterday afternoon.

A second "high level fire" was extinguished just after midnight after fire crews worked to divert the blaze from a number of houses in the area..

Around a third of Killarney National Park has been burned.

Hoteliers seek re-opening plan

Hotel and guesthouse owners are calling on the Government to clarify next week what the reopening of the sector will look like. They are also seeking a commitment to specific elaina

measures and supports including inter-county travel that will enable businesses to plan effectively for a safe and sustainable reopening. Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, President of the Irish Hotels Federation says “With June just over a month away, hotel bookings nationally are at an historic low, currently averaging only 22% for the key months of July and August. It is critical that the Government gives clarity to consumers and businesses as a matter of urgency.”

“We are asking the Government to outline a more detailed roadmap for reopening the hotels sector safely based on clear progress markers for restrictions to be eased in line with public health improvements. While we recognise the challenges around public health and supressing Covid that it is facing, the ongoing lack of detail is jeopardising the viability of hotels and guesthouses as they grapple with the financial and operational commitments required to be ready to reopen after months of prolonged closure.”

Summer Easing Plan this week

The Government will this week announce its plan for the likely easing of restrictions over the summer months.

From today (Monday) outdoor sports facilities can reopen, including pitches, golf courses and tennis courts.

Outdoor visitor attractions such as zoos, open pet farms and heritage sites can reopen from today but not amusement parks. Any hospitality services in these areas will only be open for takeaway services, and capacity limits will be in place.

Under Covid-19 guidelines activities should take place between a maximum of two households.