Family-owned hotels group reports 21% increase in visitors

A network of 26 family-owned hotels has reported a 21 per cent increase in visitor numbers to date this year.

The figures, recorded by Irish Country Hotels, include an 84 per cent rise in bookings from France and a 73 per cent rise in bookings from the United States in the first two months of the year.

At a reception in Buswells Hotel in Dublin yesterday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced that Irish Country Hotels would be able to carry the Guaranteed Irish logo from now on.

The 26 hotels are independent and are usually family-owned. The organisation’s chairwoman, Mary Fitzgerald, said the buoyant tourism figures meant the hotels hoped to employ more part-time staff this year.