Shelbourne owners hit out at hotel chaos

THE owners of the €1 million-a-room five-star Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin have claimed before the Commercial Court that the hotel is being managed in a shambolic style by an arm of the Marriott international hotel group with “nobody in charge of the ship”.

Denying the claims, the Marriott group has argued it has complied with its obligations under the hotel management agreement for the Shelbourne and the public airing of the owner’s claims are causing “huge damage” to the hotel.

Michael McDowell SC, for Torriam Hotel Operating Co, the Marriott company operating the hotel, said a long and complex management agreement reached between the sides in 2006 provided for any such disputes, including sensitive disputes relating to commercial issues and the adequacy of staff, to be determined by arbitration, not aired publicly.