Business Journalist
Hotels and guesthouses saw revenues fall by €2.6 billion last year, according to the Irish Hotels Federation, as Covid-19 limited the entire hospitality sector for most of 2020.
The figure represents a 60% dip year-on-year, with room occupancy levels falling from 73% to 30%.
The data was based on a survey of IHF members late last year, representing 165 properties and almost 17,000 guest rooms.
The IHF said the figures represented the obliteration of tourism in Ireland last year.
With further restrictions likely to remain in place for months to come it called on the Government to introduce further measures to assist hotels and guesthouses.
Updated / Tuesday, 22 Dec 2020
14:00
Restaurants Association of Ireland says thousands of euro of stock will be wasted due to the new Covid-19 restrictions
The Restaurants Association of Ireland said today s news of new Covid-19 restrictions come as a disastrous, devastating and crushing blow to restaurant owners and their staff ahead of Christmas.
It said the short notice given by the Government will mean thousands of euros of stock in each business will be lost in wastage.
The association has called on the Government to provide a financial aid package for the restaurant sector, which it said has being economically flattened over the past nine months.
Coronavirus restrictions Ireland: Taoiseach announces return to Level 5 from Christmas Eve amid pro independent.ie - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from independent.ie Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Irish people have splashed out millions on hotel vouchers this Christmas, but actual bookings have tanked as uncertainty over Covid travel restrictions continues.
Less than one in ten hotel rooms across the country (8pc) are now booked for January, according to the latest industry survey from the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF).
Even fewer are booked for February (6pc), following on from historically low occupancy levels of just 25pc for December.
Irish hotels are now facing their harshest ever start to a new year , says IHF Chief Executive Tim Fenn.
Today s easing of inter-county travel restrictions led to a marginal increase in bookings over the past week, he says, but the overall trend is grim.
Updated / Thursday, 17 Dec 2020
13:07
Booking levels for hotel rooms of just 8% are being reported for January, dropping back to 6% for February.
Hotels and guesthouses across the country are facing their harshest ever start to a new year due to a collapse in room occupancy figures, according to the latest industry survey from the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF).
Booking levels for hotel rooms of just 8% are being reported for January, dropping back to 6% for February.
This follows already historically low occupancy levels of 25% reported for December.
IHF Chief Executive Tim Fenn is urging the Government to review the operation of its Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) which currently excludes hotels.