Jurys Doyle: The largest hotel group in Ireland with 36 properties and a total of 8,000 rooms spread between Ireland, Britain and the US. Developing five new properties, mainly in England, but also one in Cork.
The hotel group operates a number of properties in the three- and four-star categories. Interestingly it doesn't have hotels in many of the towns and cities occupied by the Great Southern group - for example, Derry, Killarney, Parknasilla, Rosslare and Shannon. However it is believed to be most interested in the Dublin hotel and may not be prepared to purchase all nine properties.
Clarion Group
Would be very familiar with Great Southern brand as it operates the main rival to the Great Southern at Dublin Airport.
Last year, it paid about €34 million to buy the Holiday Inn property at the airport. Operates six hotels in the Republic. The main shareholder is builder Paddy Kelly, while property developers the McCormack family are the second-largest shareholders. A number of its properties are four-stars. Despite this, there would not be too much overlap with the Great Southern properties.
Gresham Hotel Group
Owner of six hotels and backed by three investors who make up the Precinct Consortium. They tried to buy Jurys Doyle last year, but were unsuccessful. The group consists of Bryan Cullen, a property developer, hotelier JJ Murphy and David Coleman, a solicitor. Might not be prepared to buy the nine properties, but are anxious to expand group if the right opportunities arise. May be able to call on backing from billionaire financiers David and Simon Reuben.
Bernard McNamara
One of the most active property developers in the Republic over recent years. He has been part of consortiums that bought the Shelbourne hotel and the former Jurys Tara hotel in Booterstown, Co Dublin. He is building 100 homes at Parknasilla, extending the golf club and constructing a small marina.
Derek Quinlan
As the head of various consortiums, the former tax inspector has invested heavily in hotel developments in Britain and Ireland, including the landmark Savoy Hotel in London, which was sold on within five months to Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and Bank of Scotland for €300 million. Mr Quinlan was also involved in the group of investors who purchased the Four Seasons hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Lynch Hotels
Irish-owned family hotel group, which has grown from modest beginnings with just the one property at the West County Hotel in Ennis, Co Clare. It now has nine properties, including the Green Isle in Dublin. Might take an interest in buying the Great Southern in Shannon Airport.
