Hotel rates may be at 1999 levels but there's little room to haggle, ROSITA BOLANDdiscovers
THIS WEEK, a study conducted by Horwath Bastow Charleton found that hotel room rates in the Republic had dropped to 1999 levels. It also found a third of Irish hotels were having problems making their interest payments on bank loans. There is, the report estimated, an excess of 10,000 hotel rooms.
What does this mean for customers looking for a hotel room for the night? On Thursday, The Irish Timescontacted 10 hotels around the country, looking for a standard double for two people for tonight, and also for Wednesday.
MALTON HOTEL
Killarney, Co Kerry
Online price:€170 with breakfast for tonight, with the same rate for Wednesday.
Price when contacted:The hotel quoted €170 for tonight, and €150 for Wednesday.
Why is the quoted rate cheaper for Wednesday than the one listed online?"We have a reduced rate for Wednesday. It all depends on availability. We have more rooms available Wednesday, and I can give you a better rate over the phone. I can't do anything for you for Saturday, though. It's all down to availability and we only have a couple of rooms left."
Saving:€20 for Wednesday.
CLARION HOTEL
Limerick city
Online price: €79 for both nights, excluding breakfast; with breakfast, €99.
Price when contacted:The hotel quoted the same prices as the website, and would not negotiate.
Saving:nil.
JURY’S INN
Christchurch, Dublin
Online price:€89 room only, or €107 with breakfast tonight. The prices for Wednesday are the same.
Price when contacted: There was a very considerable wait on hold before getting through to the hotel. The hotel quoted the same price for tonight and Wednesday as the online price.
Why is the room the same price midweek, when weekends are supposed to be more expensive?"It changes from day by day depending on how busy the hotel is. The price of the room can go down to as little as €59 a night, and the same room can increase into the hundreds, depending on demand. The busier it is, the more expensive the room."
Is this the same policy for all the Jury Hotels?"It's the same for all the Jury's. Most hotel chains work like that."
Saving:nil.
GREEN ISLE HOTEL
Newlands Cross, Dublin
Online price:€69 room only and €89 with breakfast tonight; €59 and €79 respectively for Wednesday.
Price when contacted:the hotel would not budge on the Saturday price. Could they do anything for Wednesday? Throw in breakfast? "I might do that for Wednesday." Might? "I will do it."
Saving: €20 for Wednesday.
ORMONDE HOTEL
Kilkenny city
Online price:€149 with breakfast tonight; €109 Wednesday.
Price when contacted:The hotel would not negotiate with price. "All the hotel rates in Kilkenny at weekends are much more expensive than midweek, but midweek you can get a room for about €99. Kilkenny is always busy at weekends, that's why weekend rates are more expensive."
Saving: nil.
GLASSHOUSE HOTEL
Sligo
Online price:€129 room only tonight. Add €10 per person when booking for breakfast. Otherwise, breakfast is available on the morning for €12.50 per person. Wednesday: €99 without breakfast; with breakfast, rates as above.
Any possibility of a reduction, or complimentary breakfast?"I wouldn't be able to do anything for you for either night. July and August are our busiest months. We have only 10 rooms left for Saturday and only 40 left for Wednesday." (The Glasshouse Hotel has 116 rooms.)
Saving:nil.
MEYRICK HOTEL
Galway city
Online prices:€199 tonight, including breakfast; €350 for Wednesday, which is Race Week in Galway.
Any possibility of a reduction, or complimentary breakfast?"No, we couldn't do anything at all for you either night. During Race Week, hotel rates are generally up in Galway, because the place is packed. It's just what everyone does, because of the demand."
Saving: nil.
DOOLEY’S HOTEL
Waterford city
Online price: €99 with breakfast tonight; €79 for Wednesday.
Price when contacted:The hotel offered a rate of €50 per person with breakfast tonight, and €40 per person on Wednesday, €1 more than the online price.
Any possibility of a reduction, or complimentary breakfast?"No, we can't do anything for you tonight. Price is all down to availability . . . At this time of the year, €40 per person midweek is the best we can do."
Saving: €1 more per night
RADISSON BLU
Athlone, Co Westmeath
Online price:€130 bed and breakfast tonight; €109 for Wednesday.
Price when contacted:The same rates were quoted. However, in negotiation, the hotel offered the same room tonight for €120 and for €99 on Wednesday. "A higher rate on a Saturday is normal. It's the same in all hotels, because Saturday is our busiest night."
Saving:€10 for both nights.
OLD GROUND HOTEL
Ennis, Co Clare
Online price:room only, €119 tonight and Wednesday.
Price when contacted: The hotel quoted €150 for a room with breakfast and €129 room only. For Wednesday, the rate quoted was €140 with breakfast and €119 room only. It was pointed out that their website was offering the rooms at a cheaper rate than quoted over the phone. “The website must have a special offer. We can offer you that price too, if that’s what the website says.”
Any possibility of a reduction, or complimentary breakfast?The hotel would not move on the price of the room for tonight, but offered the room on Wednesday for €119 with breakfast, or €99 for the room only. They also took contact details so that someone could call back if special deals came up.
Saving:€20 for Wednesday.
