Holidaymakers splashing out on five-star experience here
STAYCATIONERS will be big spenders this summer, with bookings at Ireland’s most exclusive five-star hotels and Airbnbs soaring.
Requests for hotel upgrades, more expensive wines, private villas and extended stays are flooding in as people prepare to splash out.
Ashford Castle, Ballyfin Demesne, Sheen Falls, Dromoland Castle and the Park Hotel have reported a flurry of bookings.
Luxury Airbnbs with beach views are already booked out from May to September.
Properties such as Skellig Rest Cottage in Waterville, Co Kerry, which has a hot tub, sauna and garden hammock, is booked out from April to September at a cost of €1,400 a week.
Niall Rochford, the general manager at Ashford Castle in Cong, Co Mayo, said: “In the last two weeks, people have kind of woken up and started to think about the summer ahead.
“It’s been a really difficult time and we’re seeing the pent-up demand. Those who would normally go to the south of France and Italy can’t this year, so they’re willing to spend the extra money on the five-star experience at home.
“Our rates start at €625 and go right up to €5,000 for the Regan suite, and we’re selling across the board, including the Regan suite. The vast majority of bookings are from the domestic market.
“People are also booking a three-to five-night stay as opposed to one night.”
Mark Nolan, the general manager at Dromoland Castle in Co Clare, said: “Two things I’ve noticed — people have the ability to spend more than ever and they’re booking for much longer, sometimes up to eight to 10 nights. They also want a larger room. That’s certainly a trend.”
With holidaymakers opting for extended getaways as opposed to a weekend break, hotels are preparing to meet their expectations.
“Because they’re staying longer, hotels are planning new activities,” Mr Nolan said. “We’re clearing deer trails and developing watersports and we’re broadening horizons with food and beverages.”
Asked if hotels will hike their prices, he said: “No. People are booking longer stays and we don’t want to kill the golden goose, so our rates are staying between €650 and €950 for a suite.”
John Brennan, of the Park Hotel in Kenmare, Co Kerry, said hotels have learned from their mistakes at the Millennium, when they “got too smart”.
“People felt ripped off and had parties at home instead. They had a great New Year and said, ‘We won’t spend a fortune going away any more’. Ever since, the market for that weekend has been soft.
“Last year, there was an increase in spend on our wine list. Where previously they would have spent €35 or €40 on a bottle of wine, they were willing to spend €65 and €70 now.
“Rather than put up rates, it’s better to let people decide for themselves if they want to spend the extra money.”
Damien Bastiat, the general manager at Ballyfin Demesne in Co Laois, has noted “an increase in enquiries and reservations from the Irish market when normally we would see mainly overseas visitors”.
Seamus Crotty, at Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare, said the level of enquiries “has been phenomenal”.
“Our private villas are almost booked out and reservations in the hotel are well up,” he said.
“An interesting thing is the level of engagement. They’re planning comprehensive trips and have the time to research the attractions in the area. They want to make their trip special and memorable.”
‘Dromoland and Ashford Castle report a flurry of bookings’
A MAJOR overhaul of outdated licensing laws could allow pubs, bars, nightclubs, and off-licences to open longer and make it easier for theatres, galleries and other cultural venues to sell alcohol.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee is planning new legislation this year that would replace the State’s complex and outdated licensing laws as part of plans to revitalise the night-time economy once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
It comes as Taoiseach Micheál Martin said yesterday that he did not foresee pubs or restaurants reopening before the end of June, prompting a renewed warning from the hospitality sector that businesses are facing “financial ruin and meltdown”.
Ms McEntee wants to make it easier for theatres, galleries and exhibition spaces to get alcohol licences so the range of night-time and cultural offerings can be broadened.
New amenity licences could be created for premises where selling alcohol was considered ancillary to the main activity such as these cultural venues as well sporting arenas, airports, trains, and racecourses.
Ms McEntee is examining the repeal of the Licensing Acts, the Registration of Clubs Acts and the 1935 Dancehall Acts as well as reforms to laws on alcohol sales.
The measures being examined include staggering and extended closing times for bars, pubs and nightclubs.
At present such venues that open later require special exemption orders from the District Court on the basis that they are holding a special occasion.
But a new proposal could see these venues obtain annual nightclub permits.
Ms McEntee will also examine longer opening hours as part of this process given that the nightclub sector, which has been closed entirely since last March, has argued that extended opening times are essential to cater for changing lifestyles as well as tourists and visitors.
Reforms to trading hours for pubs and bars as well as off-licences will also be examined. This could, for example, mean bringing Sunday trading for on- and off-sales into line with the rest of the week.
The reforms are also likely to see the application process for alcohol licenses modernised and streamlined.
The District Court would take responsibility for new on-licence applications from the Circuit Court.
The proposed overhaul of licensing laws forms part of Ms McEntee’s Justice Plan 2021, which will be launched this week.
It contains more than 200 actions and reforms, as well as timelines for their implementation.
Ms McEntee said: “Our pub, hospitality and cultural sectors are an intrinsic part of our social fabric but have been hardest hit by the pandemic, with many not opening their doors for a year.
“As part of my plan to build a justice system that works for everyone, I want to help and support these businesses as they get back on their feet. But, as we plan how our economy and society will look after the pandemic, I also believe we need to broaden the range of cultural offerings available in the night-time economy.
“We must make it easier for venues, galleries, exhibition spaces and ‘pop-up’ events to thrive and ensure we have a vibrant and safe night-time economy.”
Mr Martin told RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta yesterday that concerns around new variants of the virus and how vaccines would impact on them would mean a slow reopening.
“We don’t foresee that (reopening pubs, etc) before the middle of the summer... what the public health authorities are saying is that we stick with this until the end of April, then we reflect on the situation and make decisions about the months ahead,” he said.
Restaurants Association of Ireland CEO Adrian Cummins said the comments “put restaurants and hospitality businesses closer to financial ruin and meltdown”.
He called on the Government to “set out clearly what level/percentage of the population will be required to be vaccinated” in order to fully reopen the hospitality sector.