"Fáilte Ireland West is continuously encouraging a partnership approach within tourism centres in the region, such as the bundling or packaging of services to tourists combining accommodation and things to do and see. It is hoped the local community in these areas will rise to the challenge and group together to collectively benefit from this great opportunity. Community support is vital in getting this initiative to a successful level, and to this end, Fáilte Ireland West are calling on all businesses in the areas, who come in contact with visitors, to support this project."
Be at the Westport Plaza on Thursday 3rd of December and support me to develop a bicycle, walking, surfing and horse trek of the West Coast of Ireland, from Donegal to Kerry. Got the idea from Lonely Planets discussion recently in Galway at a Failte Ireland conference.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
IHF Flyer - Launch of the Be Our Guest Guide
IHF Flyer - Launch of the Be Our Guest Guide: "Irelandhotels.com, the Guide’s online version with booking facilities, provides guests with speedy access to the best deals and special offers across a wide range of hotels and guesthouses, allowing visitors to the site to select accommodation that best suits their business or leisure plans. The website features dedicated sections with Value Breaks, Special Offers and Family Breaks which are updated daily to provide exceptional value deals across hundreds of hotels and guesthouses.
Matthew Ryan, President, IHF, states, “Given the unprecedented challenges faced by Irish tourism, effective and creative marketing of our product both at home and abroad is more vital than ever. This year’s Guide showcases the tremendous range of accommodation being offered by hotels and guesthouses at the highest standards of service in a highly competitive market. Irish hotels now offer among the best value in Europe with prices having dropped by up to 15% over the last year.
“With overseas trips to Ireland down almost 14%, a key objective for 2010 is to regain lost ground, particularly in the British market. In terms of business tourism, the priority is to attract new business and conference visitors to derive maximum benefit from the availability of the national conference centre when it opens next September. As part of this effort, we are calling on the Government to invest in targeted marketing initiatives that showcase Ireland’s excellent venues and purpose-built conference facilities.”"
Matthew Ryan, President, IHF, states, “Given the unprecedented challenges faced by Irish tourism, effective and creative marketing of our product both at home and abroad is more vital than ever. This year’s Guide showcases the tremendous range of accommodation being offered by hotels and guesthouses at the highest standards of service in a highly competitive market. Irish hotels now offer among the best value in Europe with prices having dropped by up to 15% over the last year.
“With overseas trips to Ireland down almost 14%, a key objective for 2010 is to regain lost ground, particularly in the British market. In terms of business tourism, the priority is to attract new business and conference visitors to derive maximum benefit from the availability of the national conference centre when it opens next September. As part of this effort, we are calling on the Government to invest in targeted marketing initiatives that showcase Ireland’s excellent venues and purpose-built conference facilities.”"
The Mayo Business Awards sponsored by Bord Gais.
Winner of the eCommerce Award - Westport Woods Hotel & Spa
Comments from the Mystery Shopper
"This entry demonstrated that they have taken a strategic approach to the topic and have a well defined and well implemented ebusiness marketing strategy in place. As well as being informative their web site is also highly interactive. Customers and potential customers can interact with the business at a variety of levels, not just by telephone and email, but also via live on-line chat, and via facebook. They can check availability; examine special offers and book on line. All of this is possible in a visually attractive, easy to navigate site with all important issues located above the fold. The copywriting is of a particularly high standard, is chatty and inviting. All of these factors combine to make it easy for customers to do business with the hotel and for the hotel to do business with their customers."
Winner of the eCommerce Award - Westport Woods Hotel & Spa
Comments from the Mystery Shopper
"This entry demonstrated that they have taken a strategic approach to the topic and have a well defined and well implemented ebusiness marketing strategy in place. As well as being informative their web site is also highly interactive. Customers and potential customers can interact with the business at a variety of levels, not just by telephone and email, but also via live on-line chat, and via facebook. They can check availability; examine special offers and book on line. All of this is possible in a visually attractive, easy to navigate site with all important issues located above the fold. The copywriting is of a particularly high standard, is chatty and inviting. All of these factors combine to make it easy for customers to do business with the hotel and for the hotel to do business with their customers."
Friday, November 13, 2009
BACON WARNS ENTIRE HOTELS SECTOR FACES INSOLVENCY
IHF Demands Swift Action to Save Biggest Contributor to Our Economy
The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has received a major, independent economic report* undertaken by economist Peter Bacon which stresses the serious challenges facing the hotels sector. It confirms the worst fears expressed by the IHF since the recession started. Mr Bacon in his report outlines a series of urgent actions needed now if the hotel sector is to survive.
The Report highlights the damage which is being caused to the hotels sector as a whole by financial institutions and banks supporting unviable and insolvent enterprises. It underlines the urgent need to address over supply within the sector and the negative effect of ongoing tax regulations which impede the ability of unviable hotels to exit from the market. The Report clearly reinforces hoteliers’ concerns that the industry will collapse unless action is taken. This cannot be allowed to happen given tourism is one of the largest indigenous contributors to the economy. These concerns have been expressed regularly by the IHF since the economic downturn started. They formed the basis of its recent pre-budget submission to the Minister for Finance seeking to assist tourism become a significant driver of the economy’s return to growth.
According to Matthew Ryan, President of the IHF, the Report contains a very detailed and structured approach on how to deal with a sector in crisis. “This Report is possibly one of the most detailed and comprehensive analyses of the sector ever undertaken and includes very serious measures to improve the viability of the sector. The Report calls for the urgent active participation of the stakeholders involved including the banks and financial institutions, the Government, the tourism bodies and the hotel sector itself to seek effective solutions.”
The Report also supports the urgent case which the IHF has made since 2008 for working capital and cost reduction supports to be provided to businesses which would otherwise be viable. These businesses are well-placed to survive in the current economic environment provided an effective restructuring of the industry is achieved.
Tourism’s contribution to the Irish economy
Tourism is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, employing over 200,000 people across the country. Notwithstanding the recession, tourism is a major industry in Ireland generating considerable value in terms of exports, employment and tax revenues. Tourism made a direct contribution of €6.3 billion to the Irish economy in 2008, representing 4% of overall GNP.
•A total of 7,435,000 overseas visitors came to Ireland in 2008. In addition, there were an estimated 8,339,000 domestic trips;
•Tourism contributed €1.5 billion in taxes in 2008 of which €1.1 billion came from foreign visitors;
•Accommodation revenues account for almost 30% of the total and hotels supply 23% of all bednights spent by overseas visitors;
•€4.8 billion in foreign exchange earnings in 2008 compared to €2.1 billion in 1995 and €4.3 billion in 2005;
•Tourism accounted for 4% of GNP
•Tourism industry accounts for 250,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs, of which almost 60,000 are in the accommodation sector alone.
•Greater spread of regional economic activity than most other industries;
•Provides a substantial entrepreneurial resource as the vast majority of tourism enterprises are small and medium enterprises.
•925 hotels with 60,729 rooms. 337 guesthouses with 4,070 rooms.
IHF Demands Swift Action to Save Biggest Contributor to Our Economy
The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has received a major, independent economic report* undertaken by economist Peter Bacon which stresses the serious challenges facing the hotels sector. It confirms the worst fears expressed by the IHF since the recession started. Mr Bacon in his report outlines a series of urgent actions needed now if the hotel sector is to survive.
The Report highlights the damage which is being caused to the hotels sector as a whole by financial institutions and banks supporting unviable and insolvent enterprises. It underlines the urgent need to address over supply within the sector and the negative effect of ongoing tax regulations which impede the ability of unviable hotels to exit from the market. The Report clearly reinforces hoteliers’ concerns that the industry will collapse unless action is taken. This cannot be allowed to happen given tourism is one of the largest indigenous contributors to the economy. These concerns have been expressed regularly by the IHF since the economic downturn started. They formed the basis of its recent pre-budget submission to the Minister for Finance seeking to assist tourism become a significant driver of the economy’s return to growth.
According to Matthew Ryan, President of the IHF, the Report contains a very detailed and structured approach on how to deal with a sector in crisis. “This Report is possibly one of the most detailed and comprehensive analyses of the sector ever undertaken and includes very serious measures to improve the viability of the sector. The Report calls for the urgent active participation of the stakeholders involved including the banks and financial institutions, the Government, the tourism bodies and the hotel sector itself to seek effective solutions.”
The Report also supports the urgent case which the IHF has made since 2008 for working capital and cost reduction supports to be provided to businesses which would otherwise be viable. These businesses are well-placed to survive in the current economic environment provided an effective restructuring of the industry is achieved.
Tourism’s contribution to the Irish economy
Tourism is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, employing over 200,000 people across the country. Notwithstanding the recession, tourism is a major industry in Ireland generating considerable value in terms of exports, employment and tax revenues. Tourism made a direct contribution of €6.3 billion to the Irish economy in 2008, representing 4% of overall GNP.
•A total of 7,435,000 overseas visitors came to Ireland in 2008. In addition, there were an estimated 8,339,000 domestic trips;
•Tourism contributed €1.5 billion in taxes in 2008 of which €1.1 billion came from foreign visitors;
•Accommodation revenues account for almost 30% of the total and hotels supply 23% of all bednights spent by overseas visitors;
•€4.8 billion in foreign exchange earnings in 2008 compared to €2.1 billion in 1995 and €4.3 billion in 2005;
•Tourism accounted for 4% of GNP
•Tourism industry accounts for 250,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs, of which almost 60,000 are in the accommodation sector alone.
•Greater spread of regional economic activity than most other industries;
•Provides a substantial entrepreneurial resource as the vast majority of tourism enterprises are small and medium enterprises.
•925 hotels with 60,729 rooms. 337 guesthouses with 4,070 rooms.
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