Irish hoteliers have reason for optimism at the IHF Conference 2015 in Cavan, as hotel occupancy rates soared in 2014.
Room occupancy was up to an average of 64 per cent in 2014, up from 61 per cent in 2013, according to the Irish Times. That rate jumped to 73 per cent in Dublin, up three per cent.
The industry generated nearly €6.5 billion in revenue last year, which it attributes mainly to the rise of overseas visitors to the country.
Last year saw 7.2 million people visit Ireland, a rise of nearly nine per cent. Of this, three million were from Britain, 2.5 million from the rest of Europe and one million from North America.
IHF chief executive Tim Fenn said Ireland is now "now firmly back on the tourism map" as employment in the industry continues to grow too. The hospitality sector employs some 205,000 people in Ireland, 11 per cent of the workforce.
The Irish Hotels Federation is hosting Strength in Resilience, the 77th Annual Conference and Showtel Exhibition at the Slieve Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan from 22nd – 24th February 2015.
