Hotels Federation to Make Case for Reduction in Local Authority Rates at Oireachtas Committee
20th September 2010
The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) will argue for a reduction in local authority rates for hotel and guesthouse owners at tomorrow’s (21st) meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
The meeting takes places at 3:30 pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House.
According to the IHF, the Irish Hotel and guesthouse sector is in a critical financial situation due to excess capacity, falling room rates and the collapse of the banking sector. Hotel occupancy rates have fallen by 15% since 2007 and prices have fallen by 25%.
The Federation believes that local authority charges are creating a significant burden on their activities. The 900 hotels in Ireland, which encompass 60,000 bedrooms pay approximately €90 million a year to local authorities in rates. This equates to an average of €1,500 per bedroom per annum.
The purpose of the meeting to enable the IHF to outline their case concerning the effect the charges are having and to explain its proposals for changes in the payment.
Founded in 1937, the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) is the national organisation of the hotel and guesthouse industry in Ireland. The IHF represents almost 1,000 hotels and guesthouses nationwide, employing over 57,000 people.