Government support for hotels
THE hotel group which owns Clayton Whites and The Maldron has announced losses of more than €100 million during 2020. Dalata Hotel Group, which is the largest hotel operator in Ireland, also revealed it had seen a 68 per cent reduction in revenue last year because of the pandemic.
And, after a challenging year, outgoing Group CEO Pat McCann called upon the Irish Government to continue its support of the hotel industry.
‘Given the scale of our business in Ireland, the Irish support packages are particularly important,’ he said. ‘The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme and the commercial rates waiver in Ireland remain in place until 30 June 2021. The ongoing support is critical as the industry navigates through this crisis and positions for recovery.
‘I am now calling on the Irish Government to continue their commitment to support this vital part of our economy as it starts to recover. One of the key supports after the financial crisis was the reduction in the VAT rate.
‘I am asking the Irish government to commit to a minimum of five years to a VAT rate of 9 per cent. The big beneficiary of this will be to the exchequer itself and it will support getting people back to work.’
Meanwhile Mr McCann has informed the group of his intention to step down as CEO, a role he has fulfilled since founding the company in 2007. He will be succeeded by current deputy CEO, Dermot Crowley.
‘I am honoured to have been chosen by the Board to succeed Pat as CEO,’ said Mr Crowley. ‘I am very excited about leading the great team that we have in Dalata as we continue to expand the group across the UK and Ireland.’