Hotel

Irish Country Hotels To Stage 'Meet the Buyer' Event

By Publications Checkout
Irish Country Hotels To Stage 'Meet the Buyer' Event

Irish Country Hotels - a group of 24 family-owned and managed hotels – is on the search for additional local suppliers as it partners with Guaranteed Irish to host ‘Meet the Buyer’ event next week.

Irish Country Hotels, Ireland’s largest portfolio of family-owned hotels, is on the hunt for new suppliers of everything from food to furniture as it strengthens its commitment to buying locally.

Buyers from each of the group’s 24 hotels are extending an invitation to companies throughout Ireland to pitch their goods and services to them at the ‘Meet the Buyer’ event, being held on Monday 27 April at Fitzgerald's Woodlands House Hotel in Adare.

The group, which spends almost €30 million annually with Irish suppliers, said it has shopping list worth some €3 million in additional orders.

In particular, the group’s members are looking for artisan food and drink items, toiletries, flowers, garden supplies, candles, furniture, cleaning products, wall coverings, fabric and textiles, glassware and pottery, gift shop items and a host of other hotel related goods and services.

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As well as the opportunity to meet with buyers, Irish Country Hotels will also be running a masterclass for small business owners on how to pitch their product or service to companies in the hospitality industry with a view to helping rural micro-businesses in particular to grow and ultimately generate new employment.

According to Irish Country Hotels brand chairperson, Paul Gallagher, buying Irish makes sense on a number of levels.

"When people come to Ireland on a short-break or holiday and stay in an Irish Country Hotel, they expect to experience something that is authentically Irish. Buying locally is part and parcel of that authenticity and it has not gone unnoticed, particularly amongst our guests from the USA and Canada. And, being able to market ourselves as Guaranteed Irish gives us a competitive edge, especially overseas.” he said.

He added that, "As a group, Irish Country Hotels is committed to supporting businesses close to each of our 24 member properties. Collectively, we spend some €30 million a year with Irish suppliers. Almost two-thirds of that spend in on food and drink products alone. And, when we say local, we really mean local as half of our suppliers are located within 20kms of the hotels they supply.

“Ireland boasts some of the world’s finest produce and workmanship. Being able to showcase that on our menus and throughout our hotels is something we do with pride and is something that our guests truly appreciate."