Hotels

Galway Hotel Plan Stalled

Plans for a major extension of the Jurys Inn hotel in Galway have to be put on hold following objections from a number of parties, including An Taisce. jurysinn

Appeals have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála against the decision of Galway City Council to grant planning permission for an extension to the Jurys Inn on Quay St to accommodate 89 additional rooms as well as a restaurant and bar.

The additional two floors planned by a subsidiary of the Israeli hotel operator Fattal Hotels, which operates the Jurys Inn chain, will bring the accommodation in the facility to 219 bedrooms.

Plans for a new wing facing the Corrib River were already modified, reduced in size and set further back from a riverside walkway to address concerns of council planners.

Balconies were also removed from the original design.

Water powers Clare hotel

The Falls Hotel of Ennistymon, Co. Clare, has invested in a hydroelectric power plant which has been constructed at the property.

The hotel estimates that, to date, the plant, which uses water from the nearby River Inagh to generate power, has prevented the release of 550 tons of carbon into the environment.

The hotel also plans to create a pumping system that would allow the venue to generate all of its hot water from renewable sources.

3,000 new hotel rooms for Dublin

More than 3,000 extra rooms are due for delivery across 15 new Dublin hotels in 2020.

Corporate property specialists, JLL, havve predicted “a tougher year ahead for in the hotels sector”, at their annual outlook briefing in Dublin.

Among the new hotels is the 421 bedroom Holiday Inn at Dublin Airport and the 249 bed Hampton by Hilton Dublin Four Courts (Former Motor Tax office).

John Kajani, whom JLL describes as “one of the most active private hotel owner-operator and developers”, is behind both schemes.

The only new hotel scheduled to open in Cork this year is the 136-bed The Dean Hotel at Horgan’s Quay.

JLL said there are other schemes in the pipeline in Cork which they expect construction to commence on in 2020. They are currently selling 71 South Mall – a former banking hall with full planning permission for a 58-bed guestroom boutique hotel.

In Galway, two hotels are under construction and are due to open in 2020: the 134-bed The Dean Galway and a 27-bedroom extension to the Glen Oaks Hotel.

Adare adds another Award

Adare Manor was voted 'Ireland's Top Hotel' in the 'Irish Independent Reader Travel Awards'. The Liberty Grill in Cork won the 'Beest Breakfast' title while the 'Welcome Award' went to Hayfield Manor, Cork. The Cliffsa of Moher was named 'Yop Visitor Attraction' and the Bray-Greystones Cliff Walk took the 'Best Local Attraction' title.

Adare

Tbe top ten hotels were:, 1. Adare Manor, Co Limerick, 2.The Shelbourne, Dublin, 3.Ashford Castle, Co Mayo, 4.The Westbury, Dublin, 5.Mount Juliet, Co Kilkenny

6. Powerscourt Hotel, Co Wicklow, 7. Druid's Glen, Co Wicklow, 8. The Europe, Co Kerry, 9Castle Leslie, Co Monaghan, 10. Harvey's Point, Co Donegal

Profit gain at expanding Hodson Group

Pre-tax profits at the Hodson Bay hotel group last year increased by five per cent to €2.1 million. Controlled by the O’Sullivan family, it includes the four-star Hodson Bay hotel

and the four-star Sheraton hotel in Athlone, along with the four-star Galway Bay hotel.

The group also entered the Dublin market last year with the opening of its €50 million 234-bedroom Hyatt Centric hotel at the Coombe near St Patrick’s Cathedral. The new hotel provided the group with a 47 per cent increase in rooms, from 495 to 729. Its Hodson Bay hotel has 175 rooms, with 167 at the Sheraton and 153 at the Galway Bay hotel.