Dalata, Ireland’s largest hotel operator, reported record revenue and earnings for 2023, with revenue up 18pc to €607.7m and Ebitda up 22pc to €223.1m.
Chief executive Dermot Crowley mentioned plans to secure additional properties in Amsterdam and is eyeing potential sites in cities such as Berlin, Vienna, Cologne, and Brussels.
Dalata experienced some softness in January and February 2024 due to hotels hotels government contract reverting to commercial use, but Mr. Crowley expects a strong outlook for the year. “the events schedule is very strong in Dublin for 2024. There are six concerts at Croke Park versus none last year, and five at the Aviva and it had none last year. There’s also the Europa League final and the autumn rugby internationals.”
The removal of the passenger cap at Dublin Airport is deemed crucial, Dermot Crowley said: “it’s not just Dublin. It’s the main gateway, not just for leisure traffic, but also for business visitors to Ireland. It is a critical piece of our national infrastructure. The flight schedule this year is quite strong, but restricting growth will definitely impact tourism. Our tourism sector is the second-largest indigenous industry and the biggest regional employer outside of Dublin. This is nott a just a Dublin issue. It’s really important for regional employment.”
