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'Re-opening with Respect' campaign

Drinks Ireland has launched a new campaign called "Reopening with Respect", the purpose of which is to encourage consumers to act respectfully when they return to pubs, ba respect

rs and restaurants.

The campaign aims to support the work being done by the Government and relevant agencies, including Fáilte Ireland, that are introducing new guidelines and safety measures across the hospitality sector.

The "Reopening with Respect" campaign will encourage consumers to respect the guidelines set out by individual venues upon reopening, asking them to respect staff by being patient and cooperative, and to respect each other, to ensure that everyone is kept safe.

"Reopening with Respect" will be digitally led at first, with a campaign toolkit available to drinks brands and the on-trade sector.

Both the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) have endorsed the campaign.

Re-Opening Day

This Monday is -Re-opening Day’ for hundreds of hotels and thousands of restaurants, cafes and bars throughout the country. intercon0620

Most operators are confident that they can work within the restraints imposed by Covid 19, but consumer response to the re-openings remain uncertain.

In line with Failte Ireland Guidelines, hotels re-opening to-day have introduced a range of protocols including on-line booking, contactless check-in, social distancing in public areas, room service and deep cleaning of accommodation. Extensive staff training has also been completed in many hotels.

Hotels expect to operate at around 30% occupancy initially, but his is likely to rise to over 50% in the coming weeks. Higher occupancy levels are expected later this month as the holiday season approaches its peak. Failte Ireland has launched a major home holidays campaign with intensive advertising on tv, radio, print and social media.

Restaurants can also re-open from to-day, but it is uncertain how many will do so. Some operators say that they will be unable to run a viable business within the social-distancing guidelines, which stipulate two-metre distancing except where this is not physically possible.

Pubs which re-open to-day must operate as restaurants and will not be permitted to allow customers to stand at the bar or mingle. They must charge a minimum of €9 for a meal.

Tourism moved to extended Departmennt

Responsibility for tourism policy has been transferred to a new Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht in the new Government. The Department catherine martin hero e1531920963297 is headed by Catherine Martin.

Catherine Martin is deputy leader of the Green Party, and is currently in contention with Eamon Ryan for the party leadership.

An English and music teacher by profession, she has represented the constituency of Dublin Rathdown since 2016, having previously served on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

She headed up the Green team in the government formation talks.

Hoteliers 'disappointed' at Department merger

The Irish Hotels Federation has expressed its 'deep disappointment' at the lack of a dedicated government Department with sole responsibility for tourism, Ireland’s largest elaina0320

indigenous employer.

IHF President Elaina Fitzgerald Kane called on the Government to put tourism at the top of its economic agenda, stating “we are shocked and deeply disappointed that tourism has been placed in a six- faceted portfolio and not part of an economic and dedicated tourism ministry. We would have expected tourism to have been included at least within an economic or business portfolio or had its own ministry, instead of being part of a multifaceted portfolio. This is a time when commitment to tourism should have been strengthened and not diluted.”

The mayor of Killarney has called for a review of the decision “to lump tourism” in with five other Government Departments and says the tourism sector deserves its own minister.

Videos help 'box' business

Italian chef Luca De Marzio has responded to the Covid 19 lock-down by developing a growing delivery service from his Rosa Madre restaurant in Temple Bar, Dublin.

luca It will, he says, help his business achieve viability when the restaurant re-opens on 2nd July.

Luca creates boxes of handmade pasta, fresh sauces and his famous tiramisu.

A QR code on the box brings up a video of Luca showing customers how to finish his Italian feast and he shares his personal play list on Spotify so you give them a full Italian vibe.

He says that the venture has been very popular and customers appreciate the guidance on his videos.

He will re-open with 'just a few tables', but looks forward to onceagain cooking his menu of Italian seafood dishes which have been the core of the popularity of Roda Madre.