The Westin Hotel, due to open next Spring opposite Trinity College in Dublin, has announced the appointment of the general manager, Mr Enda Mullin, who has recently taken up his position and will oversee the final phase of the project.
Mr Mullin said there was already strong interest in the Dublin property from Westin clients worldwide. "The potential for growth in Dublin is exciting." Westin is part of the Starwood Hotels & Resorts group and has five million members in its "Preferred Guest Programme", providing the Westin Dublin with access to a massive market.
Occupying an island site bounded by College Street, Westmoreland Street and Fleet Street in one of the city's pivotal locations, only a few steps from Temple Bar, the five-star Westin is also within walking distance of the International Financial Services Centre.
The hotel, in the former College Street branch of Allied Irish Bank, is using names of coins - the Guinea, Ha'penny, Florin, Farthing and so on - for many of its rooms. The restaurant on the corner of Westmoreland Street and Fleet Street will be known as The Exchange and the bar will be called The Vaults. The banqueting suite will be called the Banking Hall.
Treasury Holdings, owner of the hotel, has incorporated the architecture of two of the city's landmark buildings, the AIB branch and the Pearl Building, dating from 1863, into the new hotel.
A two-storey 1,500 sq ft "presidential" suite overlooks Trinity College and Westmoreland Street. Four other twostorey library suites are named after Irish writers. In all, there will be 14 suites among the 163 rooms. Leisure facilities will include a fitness centre.
Ten "guest office" rooms will provide business travellers with modern technology in their bedrooms. The hotel entrance on Westmoreland Street will have a layby for setting down people arriving by car. There will be street access to the Vaults Bar, the Exchange Restaurant and the Banking Hall. Parking will be underground and accessed by a ramp off Fleet Street.
The Vaults Bar is in the former bank vaults under the Banking Hall and dates from the 1860s. The original mahogany banking counter, fully restored, can be seen in "The Granite" pillar room.
As much as possible of the fabric and fittings of the original landmark buildings have been restored. Waterford Glass is custom-making chandeliers for the Banking Hall, which will seat up to 220 people for dinner. The much-admired stained glass roof will be replaced after restoration.
Rates will be from £250 per night and Mr Mullin expects there will also be attractive weekend packages for leisure visitors. The hotel will also operate the Westin Kids Club, and a babysitting service will be available.
Enda Mullin, a native of Donegal town, previously worked in the Shelbourne, Mayfair London, Sun City South Africa, Rasa Sayang in Penang, Malaysia, and lately the Caledonian in Edinburgh.
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide has more than 730 properties in 80 countries with 120,000 employees and more than 225,000 guest rooms. Starwood Hotels and Resorts will also manage the Carton Estate Golf Resort in Co Kildare, which is currently being developed.
