Hoteliers in Clare insist many businesses won’t survive beyond this year, if the Government doesn’t introduce long term supports for the sector.
It comes as new figures from the Irish Hotels Federation show bookings for the summer season remain low, amid ongoing uncertainty around when level five restrictions will be lifted.
Clare FM’s Rebecca O’Sullivan reports:
The Irish Hotels Federation says there has been a collapse in new hotel bookings, following the Government’s update on Covid restrictions last month.
They say the sector is effectively at a standstill, with hotels and guesthouses across Clare facing enormous uncertainty, without much needed clarity and additional supports from the Government.
An IHF survey shows occupancy results for the Midwest of only 20% in July, 15% in August and 17% in September.
Making the situation worse, one Lahinch Hotelier says many businesses, including his, are booked up with what he’s called “zombie bookings” from overseas visitors still hoping to come here, even though they’re unlikely to be able to.
Michael Vaughan of Vaughan’s Lodge fears the staycation market won’t be enough to sustain many within the industry, which by year end will have been paying out bills for two years, with little to no revenue coming in.
He believes the Government should be following in the footsteps of other European countries by focussing on long term supports for the sector.
The Chair of the Shannon branch of the IHF says too many obstacles remain in place for businesses.
Dermot Kelly of the Shannon Springs Hotel accepts that public health remains the number one priority, but he insists there are steps the Government can take to ensure that businesses can weather the covid storm post 2021.
