Tour operator encouraged by 2023 bookings

One of Ireland’s biggest tour operators – which has a reputation for bringing visitors to Killarney – says 2023 bookings are ahead of expectations.

CIE Tours is one of the longest established tour operators in Ireland and their coaches are a regular sight in Killarney every summer.

The company has a large customer base in the USA and UK.

In 2022, the first full year of tourism following the global pandemic, CIE Tours booked over 250,000 bed nights throughout the country.

“We are very encouraged by the pipeline of bookings for the coming year, which are ahead of expectations, and we look forward to ensuring that our partners and our host communities continue to benefit from our success in attracting visitors to travel with us to Ireland,” the company’s CEO, Elizabeth Crabill, said. She was speaking at the CIE Tours Awards of Excellence which were held this week where several Killarney-based tourism businesses won awards.

Killeen House Hotel was one of 14 national winners who had the highest customer rating in their category.

Five Killarney hotels, the Great Southern Killarney, the Killarney Avenue Hotel, the Killarney Plaza Hotel, the Killarney Towers Hotel and The Brehon each received a merit award.

Local attractions, Killarney Horse and Carriage Tours and Tangney Tours Jaunting Car, each received a merit award.

He broadened his experience as a Food & Beverage Manager and also as a Conference & Banqueting Manager in hotels in Kerry and Wexford before settling in his home town of Killarney and the Castlerosse in 2013.

“I am honoured to take the reins from my father and continue the legacy he worked hard to create at the resort and within the destination town of Killarney," Mark said. "We’ve set in motion big plans at the resort which are already under construction, to expand our offering and to bring solutions to challenges currently facing the hospitality sector, from the introduction of staff quarters to the major upgrading and refurbishment of the famed on-site Kenmare House into a luxury destination for the tourist rental market. I look forward to bringing these to life through the busy summer season ahead and into the future of a resort that’s much-loved by those who visit.”

Department in talks with hotels returning to tourism sector

| By Sean Moriarty

Department officials are in talks with hotel operators that intend returning their premises back into tourism bed-nights.

With the season just around the corner, hotel operators in Killarney and further afield will have to make decisions about if they'll re-open to the public or if they are to continue as accommodation centres for International Protection Applicants and refugees.

Officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) say they are in negotiations with hotel operators to “mitigate room losses and also in relation to planned re-location of International Protection Seekers”.

The DCEDIY says that it cannot comment on individual hotels and contractual matters “as the information is commercially sensitive”.

However, Department officials say that negotiations are ongoing with residents and hotel operators.

“In relation to residents of accommodation centres which are returning to tourism and hotel accommodation, negotiations are ongoing to mitigate room losses and also in relation to planned re-location of International Protection Accommodation Services [IPAS] residents,” a Department official told the Killarney Advertiser.

“IPAS will be in contact with residents as soon as plans are in place in order to give residents as much notice as possible."

Department officials have not identified additional properties in Killarney to make up the shortfall should some hotels return to the provision of tourism services.

Rumours are rife that two well-known premises in Killarney have been inspected by department officials with a view to using them as accommodation centres.

“Department officials have confirmed that there is no record of any discussions with the mentioned properties,” said the spokesperson.

Mission Road closed to traffic for two days this week.

The road closed between its junction with Lower New Street and the Plaza Hotel yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday) to facilitate essential resurfacing works.

Mission Road has become rutted by horses on the popular jarvey route to and from the National Park.

There have been several calls to have the road re-surfaced.

In January 2020, before COVID-19 restrictions, several councillors called for a jarvey plan to be adopted in the town. At that time a Killarney Municipal District meeting was told that the surface of Mission Road, which was resurfaced in January 2017, was already showing signs of deterioration.

In March 2019, the Council said it was researching various resurfacing materials including looking at how horse traffic was managed in New York’s Central Park.

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