IHF Election ‘Manifesto’

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) today called on all political parties and candidates in the general election to commit to policy measures aimed at staving off the commercial crisis facing the wider tourism and hospitality industry, particularly food service businesses.

Launching its manifesto, IHF President Michael Magner said that an urgent change in direction is now required to ensure the future viability of the industry as Ireland’s largest indigenous employer. 

Tourism and hospitality businesses are facing enormous challenges as a result of unsustainable cost increases, he said.

“These have largely been driven by the Government’s own economic policies. At the same time, there has been a worrying failure to offset these increases and provide meaningful measures to assist struggling business within the sector.

“We are calling for a commitment to reinstate the 9% rate of VAT for hospitality food businesses, which have been disproportionately impacted over the last 18 months.”