Some 160,000 Garth Brooks fans are anxiously awaiting developments after Dublin City Council axed two of the country music superstar’s Croke Park concerts.

By Noel Baker, Irish Examiner

A severe shortage of qualified staff could jeopardise the creation of 40,000 tourism-related jobs, according to the Irish Hotel Federation.

NAMA is expected to pick up the pace of Irish hotel sales in the coming 18 months — so far, it has sold just 19 of the 136 in its control, and so has 117 left to sell, a conference organised by the Irish Hotel Federation heard this week.

The Department of Social Protection is holding a jobs fair in Dublin city centre today in collaboration with the Irish Hotel Federation and the Restaurant Association of Ireland.

International conferences generated just over €7m worth of business for the Cork region last year.

The temporary 9% VAT rate has been extended to the end of 2013 in a move that will benefit the tourism sector and in particular restaurants and hotels.

Hotels in Ireland face major challenges when it comes to competitiveness and the biggest drains are the cost of wages, local authority rates and utility rates, according to the Irish Hotel Federation.

BUSINESSES leaders have hit back at a survey which found that parts of Dublin were a litter blackspot.

Businesses leaders have hit back at a survey which found parts of the capital were a litter blackspot.

FIVE-star hotel prices are 60% cheaper than they were at the height of the boom.

MICHEÁL MARTIN swept through Enda Kenny’s heartland promising to revive the tourism industry if he successfully thwarts the Fine Gael leader’s bid to become taoiseach.

In the current condition of the economy there is no doubt that some taxes are going to have to be introduced, and others maintained or increased, but the Government should ensure that these do minimum damage to employment.

THE group which invited broadcaster Neil Prendeville to London as part of a promotional drive hopes to land up to €500,000 worth of business tourism from that trip alone.

THE number of visits to Ireland fell sharply by more than 10% in the first half of this year, leading to fears that the declining tourist market could force further job cuts.

DOUBLE pay rates for hotel Sunday workers are unfair and the issue needs to be resolved, according to Minister for Tourism Martin Cullen who was reacting to a call from hoteliers that Sunday double pay is no longer sustainable.

CORK bucked the national trend to record an significant increase in Christmas trade, according to figures released yesterday.

Hoteliers today called on the Government to join forces with other Aer Lingus shareholders to block the airline’s decision to abandon the valuable Shannon-Heathrow service.

CONFUSING signposts and inferior quality roads are creating a frustrating, negative experience for Ireland’s €7.4 million tourists.

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr John O'Donoghue today launched the Irish Hotel Federation's (IHF) Be Our Guest Guide to promote Ireland as a tourist destination.

THE rate of VAT for hotels and restaurants should be reduced from 13.5% to 10% in the budget, the Irish Hotel Federation (IHF) urged yesterday.

The Irish Hotel Federation (IHF) said it had been reassured by Health Minister Micheal Martin that an action plan was in place to prevent the transmission of SARS to Ireland.

The Minister for Tourism says a yes vote in the upcoming referendum would be a boost for the industry.

AN average of 76 complaints per month by Travellers that pubs, hotels and nightclubs are discriminating against them are being referred for investigation under equality law.