Testing time for hospitality trade

THE move to Level 3 restrictions across the country will have a further devastating impact on tourism businesses right across the sector, including hotels and guesthouses.

The Irish Hotel Federation (IHF) has already stated that the new restrictions would make it impossible for many hotels to stay open without a substantial and immediate increase in Government supports.

Senator Pat Casey runs the Glendalough Hotel and believes the latest restrictions will essentially mean a ‘shutdown’ for many hotels.

‘Most hotels will have to shut and It’s the wrong time of year for this to be happening. It’s very disappointing for the hospitality sector. Hotels and the hospitality sector aren’t contributing factors to any increase in Covid, and the statistics back that up.

‘ The hospitality sector is being sacrificed for other sectors. It think the onus is now on the Government to come out and be honest. It is quite clear that the hospitality sector haven’t added to the crisis but we are victims of what has happened.’

Senator Casey feels the hospitality sector has been sacrificed in favour of other sectors.

He said: ‘‘I do think the hospitality sector has been unfairly picked on and shut down. The numbers show that cases haven’t gone up because restaurants and hotels reopened. Wet pubs in Dublin never reopened and the number of Covid cases are still increasing. We have been sacrificed for the great good of other sectors, and I think the Government should be honest about that and need to come up with ways to support the industry in these very difficult times.’

He is calling on the public to respect the Level 3 restrictions in the hope that further, higher level restrictions, aren’t put in place once the three week period comes to an end on October 27.

‘ The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) are looking at the pandemic and the pandemic only. The Cabinet then has to consider wider society as a whole. We are now at Level 3 rather than the Level 5 recommended by NPHET.

‘It’s now down to personal responsibility, and we as a society have to take ownership of that. We have to now behave as a society so we don’t end up at Level 4 or Level 5. The Government can only give us advice and direction. Our own actions will determine whether further lockdowns are needed or not.’

Senator Casey still plans to keep the Glendalough Hotel open, though the hotel will be reliant on the local Wicklow market only while Level 3 restrictions restrict travel to within your own county.

‘We are looking at ways to stay open. We are examining ways to give people the incentive to experience their own county and maybe stay in Wicklow, but we know it won’t be easy. There is still a lot of fear in people. Many don’t want to go out anyway. We will have to cope with that, as well as the restrictions on movement outside your own county.’

Meanwhile, Halpins Cafe in Wicklow town will remain open for outdoor service and takeaway only.

Staff member Blaithin Rawson said: ‘We have a lovely new footpath outside the cafe so we will be able to accommodate more people for outdoor dining. The restrictions will be hard for us but we understand it’s for the greater good. We will still be open but we will be scaling things back. At the end of the day we want to be open and we want to be working.’