Surge in demand for hotel rooms as staycation season looms

Kerry hotel reports ‘avalanche’ in bookings ahead of tourism industry reopening on June 29th.

Hotels and B&Bs across Ireland have reported a sharp increase in reservations over the weekend following Friday’s announcement that hotels, hostels and restaurants can reopen from June 29th.

​Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said on Friday the re-opening of hotels, restaurants, hostels and museums would be brought forward to the end of June as part of phase two of the roadmap to reopening the country.

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I​n the Parknasilla resort in Co Kerry, the phone started ringing shortly after midday on Friday as rumours began circulating that the reopening date for hotels would be brought forward. By Monday morning, nearly all the resort’s 65 self-catering houses had been booked out for July while reservations for the hotel continued to stream in, said Carmel Flynn, head of sales for Parknasilla.

“When the news hit on Friday it was like an avalanche of reservations. People know we’re located in a very open space, they’re comfortable about booking to stay in that environment.”

READ THE IRISH TIMES ARTICLE