Irish hotels warn over Vat amid 'very turbulent times' 

Sector warns forward bookings from Britain and continental Europe are running below 2019 levels

Hotels said pent-up demand for travel is quickly unwinding.

Hotel owners are facing “very turbulent times”, which will require the Government to do a U-turn and keep the Vat hospitality rate at 9%, the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has warned.

The business group said the global economic downturn means that forward bookings from Britain and continental Europe are running below 2019 levels at a time when hotel firms face significant cost increases.