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IHF 'Serious Concern' over accommodation change

The Irish Hotels Federation said it had “serious concern” over any developments that could “undermine the viability of the hotel and guesthouse sector which has already been timfenn disproportionately impacted by Government restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic”.

It was commenting on the granting of permission to convert up to 1,600 student accommodation beds across Dublin city into tourist or short-term worker apartments for the current academic year.

The decision by Dublin City Council to allow five purpose-built student facilities to be used for holiday or general rental was described by Labour Senator Maire Sherlock as setting a “dangerous precedent for co-living by the back door”.

Representatives of the complexes’ owners said demand from students was set to be extremely low for the next academic year and the rooms could provide “attractive and affordable” temporary accommodation in the inner city.

Flight leads to 59 Covid cases

A new report has detailed how 59 people became infected with Covid-19 associated with a flight into Ireland during the summer. covid19

The study, published by European scientific journal Eurosurveillance in cooperation with the Health Service Executive, said it demonstrates how in-flight transmission of the virus can happen.

Some of the 13 infected passengers passed Covid-19 onto 46 other people, who they were subsequently in contact with following their flight.

The outbreak was linked to a 7.5 hour flight from the Middle East to Ireland, which had only 49 of the 283 seats occupied, 17% of the capacity.

Thirteen people who were on board the aircraft were later diagnosed with coronavirus.

Most of them had been travelling together in small groups, but were sitting in different areas on the plane.

European occupancy down 51%

According to hotel industry market data company STR, hotel occupancy in Europe decreased by 51.7% year-on-year to 38.9% in Europe in September. frankfurt

Meanwhile, the average daily rate (ADR) in the region decreased by 27.2% year-on-year to €90.78, and revenue per available room (RevPAR) decreased by 64.8% to €35.31.

STR noted that each of the above performances metrics were down in Europe in September from the levels recorded for August, and were the lowest figures ever recorded for each metric for September.

STR's hotel occupancy data for Europe for September follows last week's news that occupancy at Irish hotels decreased by 58.4% year-on-year in September to 37%.

Sodexo sleeps out for homeless

Over 20 Sodexo employees slept out in various locations in Dublin and nationwide , raising €14,000 for Focus Ireland and its ‘Shine a Light Night’ national fundraiser. sleepout

Senior management, chefs, account managers, head office employees and family members all bedded down in sleeping bags and tents in homes, gardens and other socially distanced spaces to support the charity. David Fox, managing director of corporate services for Sodexo Ireland with (from left) account manager Sorcha Moore and Deirdre Saunders, account director for schools and universities, were among those sleeping out on the night.

It is Sodexo’s third year to support the Shine a Light Night for its designated charity, Focus Ireland, the country’s leading not-for-profit working to prevent people becoming, remaining or returning to homelessness. Due to Covid-19, there were no official locations for the sleepout. Instead the charity asked business leaders, companies, and people all over Ireland to sleep-out safely in their home, garden, or workplace to help raise vital funds for people experiencing homelessness.

Galway, Dublin are 'Most Friendly Cities'

Tourism Ireland has welcomed news that Galway and Dublin are voted 'Friendliest cities in Europe' by readers of Condé Nast Traveller magazine galway2020

The two Irish cities have headed the list of the ‘top ten friendliest cities in Europe’ in the annual reader survey of Condé Nast Traveller, a major travel magazine. Galway is in first position, with Dublin coming in second.

Every year, Condé Nast Traveller asks its readers to decide on their favourite cities around the globe, in its Readers’ Choice Awards survey. The magazine has unveiled the results of its 2020 survey – taken by hundreds of thousands of its readers – including its list of Europe’s friendliest cities. To view the results, click here.

Welcoming the news, Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “I am delighted to see that two of our cities feature in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2020. It is another well-deserved accolade for Galway and Dublin. In what has been a devastating year for travel and tourism, this is some good news – reminding people everywhere that, when the time is right, the island of Ireland is a great choice for a holiday.