The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) today welcomed the selection of Galway city for the finish of the 2012 Volvo Round the World Ocean Race as a major tourism triumph for Ireland. Paul Gallagher, President, IHF states that the event will provide a phenomenal platform to showcase Ireland internationally and profile the country as a vibrant and attractive destination to hundreds of millions of potential visitors across the globe. He states that the associated broadcast and media coverage throughout the race - with Ireland as the final destination - will provide a significant boost to Irish tourism and businesses throughout the hospitality sector.

Mr Gallagher states, “We look forward to extending a warm welcome to spectators during the 2012 Ocean Race finale. The event offers enormous tourism potential for the country as we saw during the Galway stop-over for the 2009 race. By attracting up to 40,000 overseas visitors and injecting up to €80m in tourism income, it promises a much-needed boost for businesses across Galway. Hoteliers look forward to working with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to ensure we leverage all aspects of the finale to maximise the tourism benefits to the local and national economy.”

“The support demonstrated by the Government and national tourism bodies was instrumental in securing the 2012 event. We were competing with major European destinations such as Amsterdam and Stockholm, so it is a testament to the compelling proposition put forward that Galway was chosen to host the 2010 finale,” adds Mr Gallagher.

Over the coming weeks each of our hotels will begin their own Blog to better connect with our guests and let the world know some of the exciting events happening in and around each location.

I look forward to reading more of the posts very soon.

Fáilte Ireland Launches Ambitious Marketing Campaign

 
More than 60% of Irish people are planning a short break at home this year, according to Fáilte Ireland, which is also predicting a 5% increase in the number of domestic breaks taken by Irish residents this year.
 
Research undertaken by the tourism authority highlights that 61% of people now feel that Ireland offers great value holiday breaks, a figure which rises to 68% among those who were aware of 2009’s Discover Ireland Special Offers campaign. Interestingly, just 7% of people polled by TNSmrbi on behalf of Fáilte Ireland chose their holiday based on price. The main reasons for choosing to home holiday destinations last year were proximity to amenities, recommendations, location and accommodation.
 
In further good news, 81% of Irish people believe that Ireland has a lot to offer as a short break holiday destination, while 93% of those who holiday in Ireland are very satisfied with the quality and service experienced during their breaks at home.
 
The research was undertaken in advance of the launch of Fáilte Ireland’s biggest ever home holiday marketing campaign. Unveiled to media today, the campaign will kick off next month and will include a new 90 second cinema commercial - the first of its kind for the agency (still pictured). TV, radio, print and online advertising is also included in the campaign, and Fáilte Ireland is launching an improved Discover Ireland website next month to coincide with the launch.
 
The campaign was developed following extensive consumer research which identified a desire to escape from the omniscient doom and gloom in the media and society as a result of the recession. Building on this desire to get away from it all and have some fun, the campaign will promote Ireland as a fun, exciting, enriching holiday destination. This is carried through to the campaign strapline, ‘The Fun Starts Here’. 
 

There has been a lot of talk recently about the numbers of Golf Courses that have been built over the last 15 years in Ireland . If you are a fan of the little white ball there is great value offers to join a range of courses that , up until recently , the cost of joining was prohibitive for most people . Surely one of the best deals out there at the moment is in Tulfarris Hotel and Golf resort which is being managed by our associated company HAMS . This stunning 18 hole championship golf course is offering membership this year for €1000 inc VAT or €19 a week . There is no joining fee . This GUI / IlGU course overlooking Blessington lakes offers members full ordinary membership with voting rights . If your partner wants to play ,couples membership is available for €1,500 this year . Other benefit’s include members guest rates ,10% discount on food and beverage ,preferred members tee times and discounted buggy hire . If you are interested in this great golfing opportunity talk to Norma in the Tulfarris Golf shop on 045 876609 or email proshop@tulfarris.com

Visa regulations are hampering tourism from  China and other countries, according to Gerry Mullins, ceo of the Coach Tourism Transport Council.

He says that visitors from China seeking a holiday visa are asked to produce six months of bank statements and must give an assurance that their ‘hosts’ will support them during their stay.

The rule was introduced when  travellers from China could potentially arrive here without funds, but it is irrelevant in the case of wealthy Chinese holidaymakers, he said.

One CTTC member said that a travel agent in Indonesia claimed that he could bring 1,000 tours of 40 people each to Ireland if it were not for current visa regulations.

This daft situation was highlighted to me last year , by a colleague in our offices , when he tried to get a visa for a senior executive of a bank based in China . The executive wanted to bring his family of 5 persons to Ireland and had booked a weeks stay in a 5 star hotel in the south west of Ireland . The process of getting a visa was so difficult that he was forced to abandon his visit and go elsewhere .

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/48-hours-in/48-hours-in-antwerp-1855089.html

 For more information on the Leopold Hotel Antwerp and for the best guaranteed rates visit www.leopoldhotelantwerp.com

Group have just launched the 4th edition of the Hotel Directory . Running to 50 pages the hotel directory features over 40 property’s across Ireland , England, Belgium and France .A new departure for this addition is the inclusion of 7 associate hotels . These are independently operated hotels that PREM are working with in the ares of sales and marketing , web management , group purchasing ,etc. We welcome the addition of these fine hotels and I believe that the association will be a beneficial one .To get a pdf of the new directory click on the above link or visit www.premgroup.com

Successful steps taken by individual businesses in 2009 to cut costs substantially paid off and have put the industry on a stronger footing than a year ago.  However, many businesses are now expressing deep concern about the continuing high cost of Local Authority charges, energy and insurance.

I would like to wish all those who work in PREM and those who have supported us in 2009  a very Happy Christmas and hopefully a prosperous 2010 .