Hotels: The recent opening of a Crowne Plaza hotel at Northwood, close to Dublin Airport, has increased competition in the Dublin hotel market.

The 204-bedroom luxury hotel, fitted out with 21st century technology, has high tech meeting and conference rooms.

It should reinforce Ireland's position as a first class business destination. The Crowne Plaza, a North American-based international chain, is operated here as a franchise by owners Gerry Houlihan and Aidan Crowe, proprietors of Clontarf Castle, DID Electrical and a number of Supervalu outlets.

The Crowne Plaza name was chosen from a selection of suitable brands to reflect the focus of a hotel geared to the business travel and meetings market. The location at Northwood, only one and half miles from the airport, means it is easily accessible from the MI and M50.

Located off the old Santry Road, beside Morton Stadium, the hotel is part of a 210-acre development on the former Santry Demesne that includes apartments, offices, shops, gym and childcare facilities. Built with Japanese design influences, it is on a four-acre site. Using woods and natural colour, the hotel has clean lines but is not minimalist. The ground floor and meeting rooms all have four-metre high ceilings.

The state-of-the-art technology includes broadband access in all rooms, Blockbuster movies and CD library on the television, internet protocol telephony, call forwarding, sending of texts and ordering of room service.

For visitors and those attending meetings and conferences, the wireless local area network (WiFi) will enable business travellers to have internet access from their laptops without a telephone connection.

The site has been developed to maintain woods and parkland and includes a natural lake and forest walks. The original folly from the demesne will be restored and be a centre-piece of a public park to be given to Fingal County Council