Hotel & Restaurant Sector

Tifco Hotel Group to be awarded mandatory quarantine contract

RTÉ Business – 22.03.2021

The contract for the mandatory hotel quarantine system is set to be awarded to the Tifco Hotel Group, RTÉ News understands. The group has 24 hotel properties with more than 2,550 rooms in total. The hotels include the Crowne Plaza, and the Holiday Inn Express next to Dublin Airport, and Travelodge Hotels at both Dublin and Cork airports. The single contract will see the hotel group provide accommodation and food for those who have to quarantine. It also covers arrangements for transport to the hotels, plus security and testing there. The Minister for Public Expenditure said the hotel quarantine system for arrivals from designated countries was due to come into effect by the end of this week.

Half of restaurants face permanent closure due to pandemic, says RAI

RTÉ Business – 22.03.2021

Half of restaurants face permanent closure in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the lobby group which represents the industry. The Restaurants Association of Ireland will call for the VAT reduction from 13.5% to 9%, which was introduced late last year, to remain in place until 2025. It will also demand that the waiver on commercial rates paid to local authorities remain in place for the rest of this year. CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins will tell members of the Joint Committee on Tourism that existing supports "do not go far enough". The organisation estimates that the restaurant sector contributes over €3 billion to the Irish economy annually.