The Government and Bord Fβilte should provide funding for the marketing of the hotel industry, Manor House and Irish Country Hotels chief executive Ms Oonagh Murray said yesterday.

In particular they should make a major contribution to the costs of attending world trade shows, which can vary from £2,000 (€2,541) to £10,000 per person, Ms Murray told a meeting of the independent hotel group.

She said that many major hoteliers intended travelling to key US and European shows, which could include visiting up to 60 cities. A subvention towards this marketing initiative would be money well spent, she said.

Ms Murray called on the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr McDaid, to abolish the annual hotel registration fee for 2002. "It would be of enormous and immediate benefit to hotel owners if this fee could be waived on a once-off basis next year."

Following the events of September 11th, Manor House and Irish Country Hotels, which represents more than 60 hotels, revised its marketing plans for 2002, Ms Murray said. It will target the domestic market for the first time in its new marketing campaign.