The Radisson Hotel Group recently announced plans for its first RED hotel in Ireland – in Galway City. This joins Radisson RED’s growing portfolio, which includes more than 85 hotels in operation and development.
This article was originally published in the Summer 2024 issue of Hospitality Ireland Magazine, in July of 2024.
Radisson Red Galway is scheduled to open its doors later this year, with 177 rooms, each reflecting Radisson RED’s vibrant style and design, and incorporating art, music and fashion.
Designed by Henry J Lyons Architects as part of the new Crown Square development, Radisson RED Galway will be an eight-storey building with views from the rooftop bar and restaurant over Galway Bay and the hills of Clare.
The hotel will offer more than 400 square metres of meeting and event space on the lower-ground floor, including a 300-square-metre conference space, which can be split into two individual meeting rooms.
The overall project – developed and built by Galway-based JJ Rhatigan & Company – will see €40 million invested. The Rhatigan group is also responsible for the development of the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, in Dublin’s city centre, and the award-winning Dublin Royal Convention Centre.
Radisson RED Galway will be the first under that brand to open in Ireland, although it has a presence in the UK, Berlin, Vienna and Madrid. The Radisson RED in Twickenham, London, is scheduled to open its doors in 2025, and Radisson RED Edinburgh Airport is expected to open in the next couple of years.
Madeline Riley, CEO of Radisson RED Galway and Dublin’s Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, talks us through the Galway project.
Hi, Madeline. Please tell us about Radisson RED.
Radisson RED is a contemporary four- star hotel brand that presents a playful twist on the conventional. The brand injects new life into hospitality through informal services, a social scene that’s waiting to be shared, and stylish public spaces with standout design, to inspire our guests. Radisson RED hotels are designed to fit the needs of our guests by giving them endless opportunities to tune in and out, switching effortlessly between business and pleasure.
Why is now a good time to bring this brand to Ireland?
Radisson RED Galway is the first Radisson RED hotel to open in Ireland. In response to the lack of accommodation in Galway, we are proud to bring this new, high-quality destination hotel to our developer’s home city. It’s a great fit for Galway, and the standout design and sophisticated offering will be greatly welcomed in the city. Conveniently located, Radisson RED Galway is just a five-minute drive from Galway’s main train station, approximately one hour’s drive from Shannon Airport, and approximately a two-hour drive from Dublin City and Dublin Airport. The hotel is also accessible to the motorway to Dublin, Limerick and Sligo.
Galway marks the halfway point on the Wild Atlantic Way and is the only city on the entire 2,500-kilometre route. The Wild Atlantic Way has become a globally recognised tourism brand and has provided an economic engine for the west of Ireland since 2014. Fáilte Ireland estimates that almost two million more tourists visited the Wild Atlantic Way in 2023 than in 2013.
Tell us about your own background – where you grew up, studied, etc.
I’m originally from Dublin – now living in Enfield, Co. Kildare, with my husband, Ian, and two children, Chloe and Steven. I’m fortunate to have my mother live close by – very close, in fact – two doors away.
My professional career in hospitality started over 30 years ago. I studied accountancy full time and worked part time in a Dublin City hotel one day a week, and I still remember the original switchboard.
What first drew you to hospitality?
I’ve worked in hospitality since a very young age. My first role, as a receptionist, made me instantly drawn to the fast pace of hotels. I loved meeting new guests, welcoming regulars, and being involved in the front-of-house operation. It was here I began to learn the value of building relationships and working together with a team.
When did you first realise that you wanted to do this professionally?
I moved to the UK when I met my now husband, Ian. It was a big change for me at the time, and at a young age, too. I wanted to do something that made me feel a bit closer to home, and for me, that was working in hospitality. I worked as a reception shift leader for a large UK hotel group, and it was then I really had the opportunity to understand the operations of a hotel, from front to back of house.
What was your first big role?
My first management role was reservations manager, before being appointed director of sales and marketing for the Hilton Dublin City.
What was that like?
This was a role that has stood to me in my career. I loved the dynamic role of working in sales, representing an international brand, meeting new clients, travelling to new destinations, and finding new and exciting opportunities for the property. It shaped my understanding of the demand for hospitality in Ireland. I met many of my mentors in this role, who have since become my closest confidants.
What makes a great hotel?
Our people are at the heart of everything we do. From our team to our clients and guests, they make memorable moments happen. Offering job opportunities within the Dublin and Galway communities is something we are very passionate about – likewise, working with local and artisan suppliers and producers to provide a taste of our city to our international guests.
What are the changing trends in hospitality – people’s expectations, new elements, etc.?
Contactless services, technology-driven innovation, and personalised experiences, with the rise of AI. Finding the balance between contactless services and personalised experiences is something I am continuously trying to get right with our teams and our guests. While there are many guests who prefer a contactless stay, I firmly believe there are just some processes that are best experienced with a personal approach, and that is when memorable moments happen for our guests, creating lasting experiences.
What are the major challenges at the moment?
Recruiting and retaining staff, rising costs, and Ireland being a high-cost economy.
What are the main opportunities?
Ireland’s tourism experience is second to none. Our reputation is well established, with research showing a high level of interest and intent to visit, including a strong level of repeat visitors. The major trends point to an increased demand for the potential of Ireland’s tourism experience in the international and domestic marketplaces. We are also strongly connected internationally, with airline and ferry connectivity being a critical driver of Ireland’s tourism growth over many years. The country benefits from a highly competitive network of access routes.
How has the hospitality landscape in Galway changed in the last few years, to make this the right place for Radisson RED?
Galway is a place where a vibrant atmosphere and unique cultural charm comes together, making it the right place for a brand like Radisson RED to launch. Everything that Galway is renowned for aligns with Radisson RED, from culture, music and arts to great food and hospitality.
Any other plans on the horizon for the next year or so?
There are some exciting plans under way for the further development of Le Pole Square, in Dublin. There are some huge opportunities from a tourism perspective of this site, and shaping this location into a tourist attraction is something I am passionate about, with a strong vision and ambition to get Le Pole Square the place it deserves on the map of Dublin.
