Harvey's Point is Top Wedding Venue

What happy couples from all over Ireland have known for generations is now official- Harvey’s Point Country Hotel in Donegal has been voted ‘Best Wedding Venue in Ireland’.

Recognition came at the third annual WeddingsOnline.ie Awards at which Harvey’s Point was named ‘Overall Wedding Venue of the Year 2012.’ The award was the outcome of voting by 17,000 Brides and Grooms nationwide who chose their Top 50 Venues. The winners were then selected by an expert panel of judges based on the quality of their service and the ‘real wedding experience.’

Deirdre McGlone (third from left) , hotelier, Harvey’s Point Country Hotel, Donegal is pictured with the ‘Overall Wedding of the Year 2012’ award at the third annual WeddingsOnline.ie Awards  in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin. Pictured with Deirdre are (from left) Paul Montgomery, Christopher Mc Menamin, Sara McCormack, Samantha McNulty, Ann Marie Gallagher and Paul Mahon.'

‘We are thrilled and honoured to be chosen for this award’, said Harvey’s Point hotelier Deirdre McGlone.

‘I remember with great joy my own wedding reception in our family hotel and since then my husband Marc and I have sought to create the perfect wedding for every Bride and Groom.’

Harvey’s Point Country Hotel offers a unique wedding experience that ticks all the boxes. Its idyllic location on the shores of Lough Eske in the shadow of the Bluestack Mountains provides a perfectly romantic setting. The hospitality of the Gysling family and the expertise of the dedicated Wedding Team  creates a stress-free experience for couples from the planning stage to their Big Day. The hotel is renowned for the quality of its food, the premium guestrooms, which are among the largest in any Irish four star hotel, add to the luxury experience and the care, friendliness and professionalism of staff ensure that every Harvey’s Point Wedding Day results in lasting happy memories.

‘Brides and Grooms, who have had their weddings here over more than 22 years,  have come back to us on their anniversaries and later to celebrate family events such as Christenings and First Holy Communions, and their children now choose Harvey’s Point for their own wedding’, says Deirdre.

Little wonder therefore that Deirdre was accorded a rapturous ovation from more than 300 hoteliers and wedding industry professionals when she accepted the ‘Overall Wedding Venue of the Year’ trophy at the WeddingsOnline.ie Awards banquet .

JLC Plan 'Folly' says IHF

The Irish Hotels Federation has called attempts by the Government to resurrect the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) system 'an exercise in economic folly that is out of touch with the realities confronting tourism businesses across the country.

Paul Gallagher, President, IHF said : “At a time when many tourism businesses are struggling to survive, it is unacceptable that the Government’s focus is on restoring an outdated wage setting mechanism that severely undermines the viability of Ireland’s tourism industry. We are calling on the Government to show political gumption and face down short-sighted demands by those seeking to retain the status quo.”

“Job creation should not be all about the smart economy. We have a Government that is attempting to pull out all the stops to create jobs in the IT and innovation sector but their words and actions are not aligned when it comes to tourism – one of the country’s largest indigenous industries,” states Mr Gallagher.  “On the one hand we have supportive tourism initiatives such as a reduced VAT rate while on the other hand we have additional costs being imposed on tourism businesses in the form of JLCs. What we’d like is for Fine Gael, in particular, to show the courage of its convictions and follow a pro-business agenda that allows tourism to live up to its potential to act as a major engine for growth and job creation.”

Mr Gallagher said that payroll is the largest element of hotel and guesthouses’ costs, representing 42% relative to turnover following significant increases over the last decade. He urged the Government to create an environment that safeguards the 56,000 employees in hotels and guesthouses allows for growth in employment.  He states that, if enacted, the proposed legislation would undermine industry and State efforts to promote the tourism sector as a driver for economic growth – a policy objective to which the Government states it is committed and which has the potential to create over 20,000 new tourism jobs by 2015.

“Hotels and guesthouses, many of which are operating at a loss, are being forced to pay a premium over and above the national minimum wage,” states Mr Gallagher states. “Businesses can no longer be shackled with an obsolete system which imposes excessive wage demands and complex compliance requirements. The proposed legislation makes no sense for our country and is neither appropriate nor fit for purpose in a modern competitive economy. It has lost its relevance with the introduction of the National Minimum Wage Act and other extensive employment legislation.”

“It is astonishing that, while 440,000 people are on the live register, the Government is seeking to create another barrier to creating employment. By re-instating the JLC system the Government will in fact be facilitating an increase in the number of people on the live register.”

The Irish Hotels Federation represents almost 900 hotels and guesthouses throughout the country, which in turn employ 56,000 people. The Federation’s fundamental problem with the JLC system is that the main wage legislatively determined wage rates reflect the economic peak of 2007 rather than the dramatically worsened position of 2012 in which hotels across the board are experiencing dramatically reduced revenue and capacity utilisation.

B and Bs Honoured for Skills

Bed and breakfast owners from across Ireland gathered in Farmleigh to be honoured by Fáilte Ireland for their achievements on the tourism authority’s Skills Development Programme as well as for the launch of the ‘New Vision in Action’ B&B development DVD which will promote the redevelopment of the B&B brand.

Pictured at the launch  was Michael Ring T.D., Minister of State for Tourism and Sport and Tony Lenehan, Fáilte Ireland’s Head of Industry Services.

B&B owners were awarded certificates for participating in the Fáilte Ireland designed development programme.  The programme is designed to assist owners to build on their existing skills in order to deliver the unique experience that only an Irish home B&B can offer and which many overseas visitors are looking for.  Participants can avail of advice, training and support in areas such as cookery, menu development and customer care in order to enhance their offering.

Speaking at the event, Minister Michael Ring T.D. stressed the importance of continuing this redevelopment of the sector –

“I am delighted to be here today to acknowledge the hard work and commitment that has been shown by B&B properties across the country.  It is fitting that we are here today in Farmleigh, the home away from home for Ireland’s visiting dignitaries.

“The Irish home B&B is a distinctive feature of the tourism experience – particularly for our overseas visitors – offering the potential for personal service and close interaction between operators and guests.

“You cannot get closer to an authentic Irish experience than staying with a welcoming and hospitable Irish family, in their own home.  Research shows that when visitors are looking to experience real Irish hospitality, B&B’s play an important part in helping our visitors discover the undiscovered.

“The commitment of so many B&B owners to up skilling and further self-improvement encourages me to believe that this sector will not only survive but, in fact, thrive again.”

The DVD launched today tells the unique story of the Irish B&B through the eyes of the operators and also features interviews with guests including Irish TV personality Catherine Fulvio. It is intended as an additional aid to B&B owners to help them up their game with an assortment of tips and guidance towards best practice.

The tourism authority have been working closely with the B&B sector over the last few years to develop a unified brand for all approved B&Bs – ‘An Irish Home B&B …Get Closer’ as well as introducing a classification and categorisation system to ensure potential customers can make an informed choice based on quality assurance.  B&Bs can now opt for a general rating or aim for a star classification (with over 900 now operating at the three star level). Some B&Bs are also opting for specialised classifications such as “Angler-friendly” or “Walkers welcome”.

In all of the above, Fáilte Ireland is working closely with B&B Ireland who promote almost 50% of the Fáilte Ireland approved B&B operators.

Speaking about the B&B experience, Tracey Coughlan from Fáilte Ireland said -

“A stay in a B&B is intrinsically Irish.  As a tourism authority we must ensure that customers are fully informed and can make the smart choice as they search for quality B&B accommodation available throughout Ireland.

“Visitors today are looking for that something extra and we believe B&B’s are well placed at the heart of their local communities to offer that added value whether in providing the ‘insider knowledge’ on the best local walks, booking an evening meal in a local restaurant or providing a packed lunch for a day out. If the friendliness of the Irish is the calling card of our tourism industry, then the B&B sector is holding the Ace and needs to play it as it markets itself in the future.”

Kerry Visitor Survey

For the first time ever, tourism businesses in County Kerry will receive invaluable insights into visitor behaviour and attitudes to their holiday in Kerry.  Fáilte Ireland has released figures from a programme of research which was carried out last year.

During the 2011 season, a sample of some 1,800 visitors across the county were interviewed between June and October 2011 with some 1,400 visitors stemming from overseas whilst 400 Irish and Northern Irish holiday makers were interviewed.

Some of the key findings of the research showed the following:

*       Almost half of overseas holidaymakers said that they came to Kerry for the scenery.

*       One third (32%) of overseas holidaymakers first came across Kerry through guidebooks, more than a quarter (27%) first heard of the county through word of mouth.

*       The internet (72%) and guidebooks (64%) were the main sources of information about Kerry before leaving home.  Most of those who used the internet used general search engines such as Google or Bing (92%).  Over a quarter (27%) used Discover Ireland websites (either .ie or .com).

*       Once in Kerry, when looking for information, 84% used a Tourist Information Office and more than a quarter (28%) went to their accommodation provider for information

*       Over a third said that they went hiking/cross country walking while on holiday in Kerry.

'No' to Gallagher Airport

Transport and Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar has turned down a suggestion to re-name Cork Airport after blues guitarist Rory Gallagher. But, he said that he might consider auctioning the naming rights of the airport.

He was responding to a Brussels-based woman who is spearheading a campaign to rename the airport after the legendary musician.

TIOs to be 'Rationalised'

Failte Ireland is to 'rationalise' its Tourism Informattion Office network as part of the Croke Park Agreement. The rationalisation plan will be complete by 2014 and will involve the closure of some TIOs.

The neeed for TIOs is changing as visitors rely for information on the Internet, apps and sat-nav systems.

Latour Moves to Febvre

Febvre and Company has been awarded the agency for Maison Louis Latour, the family run Burgundy House, for the Republic of Ireland.

Maison Louis Latour has been owned and managed by the same family since 1797.  Its current owner and President, Louis Fabrice Latour, represents the 11th generation.  With such a tradition, Maison Louis Latour felt there was a natural synergy between the two companies.

Maison Louis Latour has a very strong tradition and presence within Ireland dating back to their representation by Gilbey’s of Ireland. Over the course of two decades Macon-Lugny, Chablis and Pinot Noir have become firmly established within the Irish market.

Louis Fabrice Latour, in making the announcement said: “Febvre and Company, with its excellent network in the Irish hospitality industry will enhance our position as Burgundy’s most renowned brand and help us present our Grand Crus in Ireland’s finest hotels and restaurants.  In addition, we aim to establish Simmonet-Febvre, our property in Chablis and Henry Fessy in the Beaujolais as domains of the future.”

Anthony Alken, Managing Director of Febvre and Company, expressed his delight at the new partnership:  “Louis Latour and Febvre have many synergies and it is therefore very satisfying that the two companies have come together.  Both are family owned companies that value reputation and are committed to serving our customers with quality wines”.

Beijing Tourism Chief Visits

A delegation from Beijing Tourism met with Mark Henry, Tourism Ireland’s central marketing director, as well as a number of Irish tourism representatives who are active in the Chinese market, during a recent visit to Dublin.

It is estimated that approximately 10,000 Chinese visitors come to Ireland each year. However, Tourism Ireland believes that this market has the potential to grow considerably, especially given China’s strong economy and growing population, which includes an estimated 535,000 ‘high net worth’ individuals.

Yong LU, head of Beijing Tourism is pictured with Mark Henry, Tourism Ireland.

'Bollywood' to Promote Tourism

Tourism Ireland plans to use a Bollywood film to bring more Indian visitors to Ireland.

The movie Ek Tha Tiger — meaning Once There Was A Tiger – was shot in Dublin last September.

Tourism Ireland said that it will piggy-back on the film's reach across India as part of a strategy to promote Ireland as a holiday destination.  The film, to be released this summer, is expected to reach more than 100 million people.

Tourism Ireland is leading nine travel organisations on a four-day trade mission to Mumbai and Delhi this week.

The missionis targeting  a surging middle-class in India — expanding by 40 million people every year — who have increasing wealth on the back of the country’s booming economy.  Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, said 10 tour operators in India have added Ireland to their itineraries for the first time this year, following the new visa waiver scheme introduced last year.