Screengrab from Oireachtas TV of Tim Fenn, chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation, speaking to the Oireachtas Tourism Committee about high hotel room prices. Photograph: PAShane Cassells, the Meath-based Labour senator, simply could not believe the prices of Dublin hotels, as he kicked off a grilling of tourism industry leaders over “price gouging” at an Oireachtas tourism committee meeting on Wednesday. The more the senator contemplated it, the louder he grew.
“The price of a steak doesn’t go up on the day of an All-Ireland final,” he said. So why should a Dublin hotel room? He muttered something about exploitation. Then: “EXPLOITATION.” He glared at the industry leaders from the Irish Hotels Federation and the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation to see if they had heard his message. They heard him, alright.
The IHF’s Tim Fenn responded, saying the frothy room rates quoted in the media are just the “last available” rates and most rooms are sold more cheaply, but Munster wasn’t having it. Sinn Féin’s Johnny Mythen, from Wexford, asked why hotels in the capital are so much more expensive than in his constituency. Fianna Fáil’s Christopher Sullivan explained that Dublin hotels were a multiple of the price in Clonakilty and Kinsale. “Can you not rein them in?” he asked Fenn.
I’m glad that at least someone finally asked the question of why the cost of the last remaining rooms have to be jacked up so massively and having to put someone on the spot to answer greed.
Out and out robbing bastards and they pay staff buttons. I hope the get their comeuppance when we go more restrictions in September. Take the VAT reduction off them. Robin Hood wore a mask when he was robbing people
Another cartel....
IrishTimes How come private landlords have to rent restrict their rents despite costs of tenancy been at/above rents and rising at inflation greater than rent increase allowance Hotel providers can charge what they like One rule for the debt slave citizen one rule for the lobby
Blame the media. That’ll do it , Tim.