Good value pledge needed for Dublin hotels – Noone

Dublin Senator and Fine Gael candidate for Dublin West, Catherine Noone, has called on Dublin hotels to come together and sign a pledge that commits them to providing good value for money. This would be particularly relevant when it comes to major events, such as matches and concerts.

“Thanks to this Government and the Irish people, the country and the economy are recovering and we’re entering a post-recession period. However, it seems that for tourists we could also be entering a post-good-value-for money period.

“Room rates are rising in Dublin, particularly during major events. We need to do what we can, right now, to check this problem before it becomes a deterrent to tourists.

“During the boom times survey after survey of tourists cited our high prices as the biggest deterrent from returning here, and the single biggest drawback of their trip. Now we need to make sure that we’re not sleepwalking into the same problem all over again.

“The special 9% Vat rate for hotels, introduced by this Government, has been a major benefit to the tourism sector and is much sought after by other sectors in the economy. However hotels in Dublin should heed the warning from Finance Minister Michael Noonan during his Budget 2016 speech that the case for retaining the measure for the hotel sector in Dublin is diminishing each year, due to rising prices, particularly during major events.

“I believe that a good value pledge by hotels, which was originally proposed by the journalist Billy Keane, would be very effective and would allow the hotels that are committed to decent, honest, good prices all year round to stand out from those who are simply interested in price gouging.”