Tag: dublin

Dublin Hotels

Dublin hotels full over 300 nights of the year

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

There has been a call for the development of new hotel properties after a Fáilte Ireland report found that limitations on accommodation capacity in key areas are a major barrier to future growth. Reports have shown that business is strong from overseas visitors and bookings and performance are ahead of last year, despite a decline in U.K candidates.

Total overseas arrivals to Ireland from January to August show a record 6.7 million visitors, which is an increase of 2.5%. This increase comes from an increase in the number of North American visitors, up by 18%. This increase shows that North Americans have overtaken UK visitors, traditionally the most important group to the Irish hospitality industry, in terms of revenue spent.

There have been 5 hotels opening this decade in Dublin City Centre and only 1 new hotel opening this year. Property management company JLL have called upon industry stakeholders including planning authorities, hoteliers and developers to encourage and pursue the development of new hotels in the capital’s city centre.

Commenting on the report, Senior Vice President at JLL, Dan O’Connor said, “New hotel rooms are urgently needed in Dublin City and we welcome the publication of Failte Ireland’s latest SOAR report which calls for new hotel supply now.” He added, “With one of the highest hotels occupancy levels of any European City, new hotel supply is necessary to cater for the significant leisure, corporate and group demand now facing Dublin City. We will lose out on millions of spend for the capital, if we don’t deliver new hotel and apart-hotel supply swiftly.”

 

 

Hotel News

Hotel News

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Skellig Star due to reopen

The Skellig Star hotel, formerly known as the Watermaque Hotel, is due to reopen later this month after a €3 million refurbishment and is expected to give tourism in the area a major boost.

The 56 bedroom hotel has been rebranded as the Skellig Star as well as being upgraded to include adjoining apartments, function rooms and other additional facilities

The coastal area is well-known for its stunning views of the Atlantic and has in recent years has, also, benefited significantly in the past few years by the filming of Star Wars on nearby Skellig Michael.

The hotel’s reopening later this month comes as preparations continue for the opening of the nearby Hog’s Head Golf Club, which is the first course in Ireland to be completed by the architecture firm of Robert Trent Jones II and also incorporates a hotel.

Gleeson’s pub in Booterstown to become hotel

Gleeson’s pub in Booterstown is to be extended into a boutique hotel to meet the demand for hotel accommodation in the city.

The well-known pub is expected to invest around €1.6 million into the development, adding 16 bedrooms above the existing extensive food and beverage facilities. The premise’s existing restaurant will undergo a redesign to include a lobby for the new hotel.

Gleeson’s is expected to pitch its new rooms within the mid-to-upper range of the market and the bedrooms are expected to be larger in size than the city standard. The overall business is expected to be rebranded to mark its entry into the hotel market.

239 bedroom coming to Dublin’s Liberties

A new hotel has been confirmed for the Liberties area of Dublin. The hotel is a part of a multi-million euro regeneration of the area in the capital’s south inner city and is in the early stages of development along with an indoor market, micro-brewery and retail and office space.

The regeneration development scheme will be based around Newmarket is set to be centred around the Newmarket Square area. The works will begin with the demolition of a 1970s enterprise centre.

The overall development will extend to over 400,000 square foot, generating 1,700 permanent jobs as well as augmenting the already established Teelings Distillery.

Cushman & Wakefield, commercial partners of real estate agency, Sherry Fitzgerald, are handling the development, while the design team for the project is a partnership between Reddy Architecture + Urbanism and Mola.

Planning permission is currently in the process of being lodged with Dublin City Council.

Dublin hotels saw highest occupancy in Europe in 2016

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Dublin hotels had the highest occupancy in Europe in 2016 and are forecast to stay on top in 2017 and 2018, according to PwC ‘s European cities’ hotel forecast 2017 and 2018.

The report found that hotel occupancy in Dublin was higher than London, Amsterdam, and Berlin within the same period. Dublin’s average daily room rate ranked ninth most expensive in Europe at €128.This average is expected to reach €138 in 2017 and even further to €147 in 2018.

The report showed that Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland had the highest average daily rate on the continent. The most expensive city is Geneva at €300, followed by Zurich at €245 and Paris at €229. PwC said while security concerns saw mixed fortunes for some city destinations in 2016, overall it was another record-breaking year for European tourism with 12m more visitors and almost 3bn nights spent in tourist accommodation.

Dublin Airport had a record-breaking 28m passengers in 2016, which exceeded the 2015 record by more than 2.8m. The report found that European hotel deal activity did see a slow down of nearly nearly 10% from the record high of €21bn in 2015 to €19bn in 2016, still the second-highest level ever recorded. The drop was largely driven by a slowdown in transaction volumes in the UK which fell by over 60%, due to Brexit uncertainty.

Dublin retailers optimistic about last minute Christmas rush

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

 

Retailers in the capital are “cautiously optimistic” about the final week of trading before Christmas, according to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

Shops are hoping that today will see the start of a last-minute frenzy to get ready for the big day. Shops in the city are anticipating a higher footfall in the days ahead particularly as schools and offices remain open so close to the big day. Dublin Chamber of Commerce chief executive Mary Rose Burke, speaking on Sunday, said “The sense amongst retailers is that a lot of spending decisions have been delayed until the final week”

Retailers expect to benefit from what shoppers perceive as an ‘extra weekend’ before Christmas. Burke says “Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year, which means people feel they have an extra weekend to shop. Both footfall and spending in Dublin city centre so far this month have been strong, with most shops reporting that numbers are at similar levels to last year.”

Ms Burke also noted there was “a very festive atmosphere” in the city, which could be encouraging shoppers to get to the city.

Louis Copeland of Louis Copeland & Sons, speaking to the Irish Independent, said that although trade so far has been at a similar level to previous years, they are expecting a major boost in sales in the coming days. “From today on, it will all open up. With Christmas being on a Sunday, we’re expecting some week ahead of us,” he said. “Today people will realise that it’s less than a week until Christmas, and they need to go to town.”

Paul Sheeran of Paul Sheeran Jewellers, located just off Grafton Street, also feels that people had been more willing to spend money this season, especially compared with previous years. “There’s a much nicer feeling around this year. People are getting back into enjoying and treating themselves,” he said. “Jewellery hasn’t been top of the Christmas shopping list recently but now people are easing into spending more on themselves.”

Shoppers on Grafton Street noted that the number of shops beginning their sales before Christmas have had a positive impact on their wallets and could be another explanation to the increase in footfall.

 

Selfridges have bought Arnotts department store

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

UK Group Selfridges have acquired Arnotts department store for an undisclosed fee. Founded in 1843, the iconic retail store that resides on Henry Street North Dublin, is now under the ownership of Canadian businessman Galen Weston and his wife Hilary.

Arnotts is Ireland’s largest department store and its sale has been under intense speculation for a number of months. Weston also boasts Brown Thomas amongst his retail portfolio, as well as a number of International department stores.

The sale is part of a wider agreement which saw an agreement Fitzwilliam Finance Partners between and Wittington Canada. The former was set up in 2011 by Irish lawyer and developer Noel Smyth, whose intention was to acquire the debts associated with Arnotts debt. Wittington Canada is the holding company for the Weston group. The purchase of these loans by Wittington Canada from Fitzwilliam Finance Partners was cleared by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in August, clearing the way for the acquisition.

Arnotts chief executive Ray Hernan will step down as chief executive to “pursue new opportunities” with Selfridges appointing Donald McDonald as managing director of the business. Mr Weston said of the sale “Our family has been a significant investor in Irish retailing and the wider economy since we acquired Brown Thomas in 1971.”

 

New hotel planned for Dublin docklands

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Planning permission is being sought for a 150 bedroom hotel that will reside at a former warehouse on North Wall Quay. Leading property developer Paddy McKillen recently acquired the property from NAMA.

The conversion would mean the warehouse would be transformed into a top class hotel. The warehouse was sold to Qakmount, a company closely linked to McKillen for €5million. The initial asking price of €3.9 million by real estate agents Bannons had risen due to competition from Irish and oversea developers.

Planning permission suggest the warehouse will be converted into a 7 floor 150 bed hotel, costing €10 million to add additional floors to the current 3 floor building. McKillen is a key player amongst Irish hoteliers and his organisation also have ownership of The Dean Hotel on Harcourt Street.

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/paddy-mckillen-plans-new-hotel-for-dublin-docklands-1.2390028

Image: www.dublindocklands.ie

O’Connell Street to ban adult shops and arcades in new council criteria

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Dublin City County are to publish a new plan for Dublin’s O’Connell Street. The stipulations will govern all future retail units and developments that reside along the 1,650 ft. avenue. Notable retailers which already operate here include Eason and until recently Clery’s Department Store.

The draft planning will also include areas like Henry Street, North Earl Street, Middle Abbey Street and D’Olier Street. The new implementation is put in place to promote appropriate commercial activity but also to maintain the areas character and architecture. Planning powers will be enstalled that means existing shops of ‘special significance’ will take precedence over those deemed ‘less appropriate’.

Permission for retail units classed as amusement shops, bookmakers, fast food outlets, mobile phone shops, or adult entertainment will be rejected. The scheme doesn’t however give council the authority to close such shops already in existence, rather stopping further outlets from opening.

The scheme will be available for public consultation and submissions for eight weeks. The final plan must be approved by city councillors before it comes into force.

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/o-connell-st-plan-to-ban-new-adult-shops-chippers-arcades-1.2381316

Image: Independent.ie

 

New Cinema and 65 new jobs for Dublin

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

An Odeon Cinema is set to open in North Dublin next month. Plans for the cinema had been in the pipeline for approx. 3 years. Opening on October 18th, the cinema is located in Charlestown just off the m50 and residing close to Finglas. It will create 65 new jobs and bring the total number of staff employed by the Odeon group to 440 across 11 outlets.

The 9 screen cinema will also house an iScene facility to view picture perfect high definition films on a huge screen. Douglas Breenan who is brand Manager of Odeon Ireland commented “We’re very excited to be a new part of the Finglas community, and are delighted to have 65 new colleagues joining our team.

Source: http://www.thejournal.ie/cinema-dublin-creating-65-jobs-2336396-Sep2015/?utm_source=twitter_self

‘Toys R Us’ pick sites for their Irish Sites

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Toys R Us have leased units at Westend Retail Park in Blanchardstown, Dublin and Parkway Retail Park in Limerick. With more than 1,500 stores across 33 countries and more than 50 retail outlets across the UK, this is the Toy Retailers first venture in the Republic.

Annual rent is believed to be €325,000 in Dublin for a 10,000 sq. ft unit and €200,000 in Limerick for 17,800 sq ft unit. Altogether, Toys R Us plan to open 10 stores across Ireland. Westend Retail Park was developed and run by the Cosgrave Group until it was sold along with other high-value property assets by Nama.

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/toys-r-us-leases-shops-in-dublin-and-limerick-1.2328313

Retailers to fight against City Centre Car ban

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Retailers have expressed concern at Dublin City Councils new plans to impose a car ban in Dublin City Centre. The proposal would see a ban on private cars from large parts of the city centre citing ‘serious implications for the future viability of city centre retailing’.

Retail Ireland have written to employers lobby Ibec. The County Council propose investing €150 million to make the Capital more pedestrian and public transport friendly. Chairman of Retail Ireland Conor Whelan wrote “Plans to enhance the city’s public transportation should never result in the displacement of private traffic to the point where large portions of the city centre are entirely inaccessible to shoppers who prefer to take their car’’.

The lobby also informed the council that shoppers who drive spend more than those that travel via public transport, with cars being the second most popular form of transport into the city centre. They have called for consumer information to be carried out that would research the implications should a ban come into place. Retailers, justifiable fear that such a ban would drive consumers to more suburban shopping centres and outlets.

Retailers argue that shops selling bulkier items would be particularly hard hit by a car ban, as shoppers won’t carry such items home on public transport.

“Public transport does not suit all shopping types. It isn’t about location, location, location anymore. It’s convenience, convenience, convenience”.