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Major expansion for Central Hotel

Dublin City Council has granted permission for a major expansion of the Central Hotel on South Great George’s Street and Dame Court into a new 6,554sq m five-storey hotel centralhotel

with 125 bedrooms and a rooftop garden.

In the revamp, the Rí-Rá nightclub space is to become a “speak-easy” while the space occupied by The Globe bar is to be transformed into a retail outlet.

As part of the application by Exchequer Developments, the existing Library Bar in the hotel will be reduced in size to make way for additional bedrooms.

Wildlands launches vouchers

The newly opened Wildlands adventure centre in Galway has launched a voucher scheme. wilands

Nestled in over 20 acres of woodland overlooking the Ballyquirke Lake in Moycullen, just 10 minutes from Galway city, Wildlands offers a variety of indoor and outdoor all-weather activities (indoor activities may be limited depending on Covid-19 government guidance in place). Ideal for all ages, from thrill seekers to those in pursuit of serenity. Its woodland walks and fairy trails are the perfect backdrop to the Zip ’n’ Trek course, a three-hour four circuit experience, soaring 15m above ground. Other outdoor attractions include Zip ‘n’ Trek junior, archery, disc golf, bush craft, adventure play playground and Baile Beag, an imaginative play village for children.

€10m support for inbound agents

Fáilte Ireland is administering a €10million fund to support Ireland based inbound agents who package, sell and market Ireland’s tourism product overseas. The Scheme is now catherine martin hero e1531920963297

open for applications until 8 December 2020.

The Ireland Based Inbound Agents Business Continuity Scheme is open to Republic of Ireland based Inbound Tour Operators, Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs).

Welcoming the fund, the Minister for Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport, Gaeltacht and Media Catherine Martin T.D. said:

“COVID-19 has had catastrophic implications for the tourism and hospitality sector. With no overseas tourists coming into the country, inbound agents have been seriously impacted. This scheme will provide these businesses with a direct financial contribution to help support them with future operational and business continuity plans.”

Sodexo reveals workplace plan

Sodexo’s Vital Spaces has brought together the company’s diverse expertise to provide employers with a new proposition to help them transform their workplaces through a davidfox connected, people-centric approach.

David Fox, managing director, Corporate Services, Sodexo Ireland: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the workplace as we know it, but that transformation was already underway.

“Over the last few years, we have seen the gradual shift towards agile and flexible working and, because of this trend, we had already begun to look at how we can support client organisations to maximise the use of their workspaces.

“Vital Spaces it is an evolution of Sodexo’s wide portfolio of expertise and services brought together to provide our clients with the solutions to transform their workplaces, bringing a new focus on the working experience whether in an office, at home or at a third space, and drive employee engagement as a result.

Covid Compensation could be €1bn

An economic report on the impact of anti-virus restrictions that was prepared for the Press Up hospitality group claims taxpayers could face an industry compensation bill of €1 elephant1218

billion if the company wins its legal challenge against the State over the latest round of measures.

The group of 55 restaurants, bars and hotels run by businessmen Paddy McKillen Junior and Matt Ryan is suing the Government seeking compensation for the shutdown of the hospitality sector and a High Court declaration that the rules are an unconstitutional interference in its business.

Press Up commissioned a report by well-known economist, Jim Power. It warns of “severe financial repercussions for the State” if the company wins its case and other claims follow, and says the compensation bill for the whole hospitality sector could reach €1 billion.