Leading hotelier warns of difficult year

A LEADING figure in the tourism industry in the southwest has urged new Tourism Minister Martin Cullen to “hit the ground running” as the industry struggled to fill empty beds.

Killarney hotelier Michael Rosney also warned of a difficult year for the industry — which was worth €1.233 million to Cork and Kerry alone in 2006. He also urged new Tourism Minister Martin Cullen to “hit the ground running”.

Mr Rosney, spokesman for the Kerry branch of the Irish Hotels’ Federation (IHF), said hotels were giving excellent value with some offering packages which did not meet their costs. However, hotels “needed to get in customers” in order to generate revenue that would keep them in business, he said.