With the peak summer holiday season drawing to a close, Ireland's top hotels already have Christmas in their sights as they look to cash in on early bookings.
Sales and marketing teams from some of the country's top hotels have already unleashed their opening salvos on the Christmas market, with Adare Manor one of the first out of the blocks offering three-night festive packages starting from €1,199pp, according to the Irish Independent.
Adare Manor marketing executive Sarah Ormston said that the hotel has received "a huge amount of enquiries" so far and that it's the first time in a decade the hotel has offered Christmas residential packages.
With the tourism industry receiving another boost this week with the latest figures showing visitor numbers were up by nearly 12 per cent in the second quarter of the year, hoteliers are hoping this upward trend will continue in the run up to the busy festive season.
The Irish Independent revealed that the four-star Harvey's Point in Donegal is already reporting improved sales of their Christmas packages, stating that it's "about three-quarters full at this stage", while a spokesperson for Mount Juliet in Co. Kilkenny said that some people even rebook for Christmas the following year on checkout in January.
Meanwhile, the five-star Ballyfin House is advertising Christmas packages from €1,200 per night, including horse-drawn carriage rides, while Ashford Castle (pictured), has two-night deals from €1,320pp (all inclusive).
Earlier this month, Minister for Tourism Paschal Donohoe expressed his concern over the rising prices of hotel rooms in Ireland, which have returned to 2007 levels this summer.
