Hotel & Restaurant Sector

Hospitality ‘service charges’ to be banned unless going straight to staff

The Irish Times – 29.06.2022

Customers will no longer be asked to pay mandatory “service charges” at restaurants or pubs under new plans being brought forward by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar. The amendment to the Bill will effectively ban so called service charges unless the charge goes straight to staff. “Our overall objective with the Bill is to prevent employers from using tips or gratuities to make up basic wages and to introduce transparency about how tips and service charges are distributed,” Mr Varadkar said.

Powerscourt Hotel to build staff home

Hospitalitynews.ie – 10.08.2022

The Powerscourt Hotel Resort and Spa has received planning approval to build a new 56-bed staff accommodation complex to help it attract staff amid the current housing crisis. In the submission, planners for Powerscourt said it was “exasperated” by the current housing crisis and the availability of affordable housing near Powerscourt in Enniskerry, leading to difficulties in attracting prospective employees. Planners for Powerscourt wrote that currently some hotel rooms are occupied by staff, which was lowering revenue. According to the submission, the development will have 29 rooms and 56 beds, with each unit sized at 17.5 sq m. It will also include a common room and kitchen.