Hotels across Dublin are experiencing exceptional levels of advance bookings this summer, relative to capacity, as a result of a much faster rebound in tourism than previously anticipated, according to the latest analysis by the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF). This coincides with an unprecedented reduction in Dublin hotel room stock that would normally be available to supply tourist accommodation.
Details
As a result, many hotels are nearing full capacity on busy days earlier than in previous years. Some 80% of available Dublin hotel rooms for the month of June had already been booked in advance by the end of May. This is a significant increase on pre-pandemic levels in 2019, when the advance bookings for June stood at 65% at the end of May.
IHF chief executive Tim Fenn stated, “The recovery is being fuelled by very significant levels of pent-up consumer demand, both domestically and internationally. At the same time, many Dublin hotels are managing unprecedented levels of displaced business, including group bookings that had been previously contracted back in 2020 and 2021. Dublin hotels are also experiencing substantial increases in demand from activity within the wider economy, for example, with large-scale commercial construction projects having restarted.”
Dublin has 22,492 registered hotel rooms. IHF industry research indicates that 17.6% of these (3,960 rooms) are currently unavailable for use as tourist accommodation – 15.2% (3,410 rooms) are contracted by government and state bodies, while 2.4% (550 rooms) are out of service due to reduced staffing levels, staff accommodation allocations, supplier issues, and refurbishment projects.
The IHF’s Fenn noted that hotel capacity issues are further compounded by shortfalls in additional Dublin hotel stock coming on stream, due to delays in construction activity during the pandemic. The combined effect of these exceptional factors is that there are now more nights – particularly at weekends and on nights when there are major events – where hotel room occupancy in Dublin exceeds 90% (compression nights) and the last-available rooms are quoted at rates in excess of the average daily room rate.
Fenn said, “What is often lost in the commentary is that the vast majority of rooms currently sold have been contracted and previously booked well in advance, at rates significantly below the last-available rates. Actual average price increases have been much lower, with overall value for money in the market in Dublin remaining competitive with our European peers, relative to the very high quality of our hotel and guesthouse product.”
According to independent consultants STR, the average room rate for Dublin hotels in April this year was €154, and early indications are that the average rate for May was approximately €177 – a 15% increase on (pre-pandemic) May 2019. This is in the context of hotels experiencing spiralling operational costs, with year-on-year increases of 88% in energy, 18% in food and beverage supplies, over 30% in linen services, and 20% in insurance costs.
Outlook And Challenges
Commenting on the outlook for the sector, Fenn stated, “The current imbalance is resulting in what we expect to be a short-term disruption to the market, which is likely to be resolved as pent-up demand eases and further hotel room stock comes on stream.”
He stated that, while supply and demand challenges are causing significant difficulties, the hotel sector and wider tourism industry also face a number of additional pressing challenges. These include heightened uncertainty around inflation, as markets adjust to supply/demand imbalances; the escalating costs of doing business; lingering economic risks in relation to the impact of the coronavirus on international tourism; an increased risk of a global downturn; and further supply chain disruptions. Coupled with this, there is no early end in sight to the war in Ukraine and the disruption caused to global commodity markets.
Fenn concluded, “It is clear that enormous challenges remain, as we seek to recover from the worst economic shock in living memory and focus on the long-term sustainable growth of our industry, including the restoration of over 270,000 tourism livelihoods throughout the country. This is the overriding priority for us and our industry partners over the coming months.”
© 2022 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
