Hotel group to build another Dublin inn

DUBLIN is to benefit from the construction of another Jurys Inn by the Jurys Doyle Hotel Group.

Neither tourism meltdown or threats of war on Iraq have been enough to halt the drive of the group.

With yesterday’s announcement by chief executive Pat McCann the number of new hotels under construction rises to six in all. The new inn will be in Dublin’s Parnell Street, just behind O’Connell Street. The aim is to capitalise on the rejuvenation taking place in the city centre.

The new inn is part of the continuing drive by the group to increase business. The group now has 19 hotels in its chain with one under construction in Boston.

Its Jurys Inns concept has resulted to date in five being built in Ireland with the sixth under construction. Four more are being developed in key British cities, which will bring the total to 16 by the end of 2004.

The net result of the latest inns splurge will be to increase the number of hotels and inns from 30 to 36, resulting in a 25% increase in room stock.

Jurys will also continue to drive its four- star hotel operations as part of its overall strategy and will be carrying out major investment in Jurys Hotel in Cork later in the year.

It was the group’s aim to develop the inns concept in Britain as fast as possible, suitable sites and suitable cities permitting. Jurys will not make the mistake of indiscriminate development that has cost other groups dear in the past, he said.

It emerged yesterday that the group is to lease the new Jurys Inn in Parnell Street over 35 years.

Such a move will allow greater flexibility in fast forwarding the development plans of the hotel chain which has funded much of its activity through cash flow.

Mr McCann said it was possible that another four inns could be under construction in Britain by this time next year, but “I am not saying that will be the case, given our insistence on suitable sites being a prerequisite to any development we engage in”, he said.