Ireland’s hospitality sector: ‘The customer feels they are not getting value for money’

This week the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, which represents the broad hospitality sector, made its pre-budget submission to Government. Among the asks, were a return to the 9 per cent VAT rate, more cash from the State to promote the industry and a lifting of the 32m passenger cap at Dublin Airport, the country’s main gateway for visitors.

So, how is the hospitality sector in Ireland doing given it is peak tourism season and Covid is a distant memory?

Host Ciarán Hancock is joined by an expert panel, with Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, Paul Donnellan, Head Chef and Owner of Gemelle’s Restaurant in Galway, and Paul Gallagher, General Manager of Buswells Hotel in Dublin.

Paul Donnellan explains why half of his restaurant in Galway city is currently mothballed, while Paul Gallagher outlines the financial hit to Buswells Hotel from recent Aer Lingus flight cancellations and the empty rooms it was left with on the first night of Taylor Swift concerts in Dublin at the end of June. But this episode begins with Eoghan O’Mara Walsh explaining why the industry was once again asking Government to restore the 9 per cent VAT rate.