The chief executive of the Irish Hotel Federation has said that hotels and guesthouses are “struggling to cope” with a two-speed recovery in the sector.
In today’s 9 at 9: Some good news as VAT is lowered; a twist in the Strauss-Kahn case; new developments in the Race for the Áras; and who is a “snotty Miss Fancy Pants”?
Nine things you need to know by 9am: The fallout from the Moriarty report continues; an 8,000 page file on Anglo goes to the DPP and there are calls for a class action suit against the state and its banks by beleaguered homeowners.
HOTEL CHAIN Crowne Plaza has introduced grass to its meetings rooms in a bizarre move to increase creativity.
The chain is rolling out turf based floors across its hotels in the UK and Ireland. The chain’s Northwood Hotel in Dublin will have a grass meeting room available at no extra cost all this week. A spokeswoman for Corwne said that staff will water the grass each evening and that all the usual meeting room facilities will remain the same.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph Angela Whitlock, author of Walk on the Grass, said: “Research has shown that by the age of 25, as much as 98% of our creativity has vanished.
“The look and feel of the grass is said to remind guests of their childhood and therefore free them of societal barriers that restrict creativity.
“Crowne Plaza’s initiative is perfect because it breaks down the self-imposed rules that prevent us from achieving our full potential.”
Lets hope they turn on the air conditioning – we don’t want wet feet and a ‘grassy arse’.
A RECEIVER has been appointed to the company running the well-known Osprey Hotel and Spa in Naas – just a month after another famous Midlands hotel, the Heritage in Killenard, suffered the same fate.
A receiver was appointed to Naas Developments Limited, who operate the 104-room hotel, conference centre, leisure centre and spa, as well as the well-known ‘Time Bar and Venue‘ nightclub.
The receiver, Paul McCann, has been put in place by AIB bank which is owed money by the company. The bank has appointed Hotel Asset Management Services Ltd as the business’s operator for the time being.
It is not believed that there is any threat to the 150 jobs at the hotel.
The hotel will continue to honour all bookings, whether for rooms, conferences or weddings, until further notice.
