Hotel, medical firms to create 450 jobs
Choice Hotel, an American budget chain, said it was planning to build five new hotels in Ireland in a €115 million investment in the country over the next couple of years.
The company, which owns the Comfort Inn Hotels brands, said it was planning two hotels in Dublin at Smithfield and Kingswood and one each in Cork, Limerick and Portlaoise.
The company said yesterday the expansion would create 240 new jobs.
The company already owners a number of upmarket Clarion hotel brands in Ireland and says that it expects its turnover to grow to €100 million this year.
In addition to the five Clarion Hotels, it also has a further eight properties under the Quality Inn brand.
Separately yesterday, Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Micheál Martin announced that 213 jobs would be recreated at three companies in Galway.
American firm Respironics is planning a €3 million centre at Galway’s Parkmore Business Park, which will lead to the creation of 105 jobs in the next five years.
The company said the new centre will design and produce new respiratory ventilation products for the worldwide medical industry.
Another firm, Labcoat, which specialises in development of drug application technologies, will create its headquarters, manufacturing and R&D operations at the Ballybrit Business Park.
The investment of €1.24m will create 68 new high quality jobs over four years. The company said its Irish operation will be responsible for developing its core technology to coat stents and other medical implants. Another US firm, Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, will establish its European Operations Centre at the IDA Business Park at Gort in the county and will add 40 new jobs.
Minister Martin said yesterday expansion plans by the three companies were an endorsement of Galway’s reputation as a location for medical technology firms.
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