VALUE FOR money never goes out of fashion, no matter how challenging or buoyant the economic circumstances may be. That is why Dublin hotels and restaurants are to be commended for participating in a second “Dine in Dublin Restaurant Week” that begins today and offers special good-value dinner menus and further reductions in hotel charges.
The need to encourage the average householder to spend a little more and save less has been reflected in an increasing number of closed or limited-opening establishments and in rising unemployment. The level of personal savings has more than quadrupled in the past two years and, with signs that the worst of the recession may be over, people should relax and enjoy themselves a little more.
Last April, the first dining out event was held and some 17,500 people patronised the restaurants involved in the promotion. Because of its success – it contributed an estimated half a million euro to the local economy – additional restaurants and hotels have joined on this occasion. It promises to be a lucrative event for an industry under pressure and an enjoyable occasion for those who have been minding their pennies in the expectation of better days ahead. The idea has considerable potential for the hospitality sector and there is no reason why its implementation should be confined to Dublin.
Apart from dry periods in June and September, the weather has been unkind to Irish tourism. But foreign visitors who enjoy hot and sunny weather at home make allowances for our wet days and grey skies. The main attraction for them is the scenery – even if seen through a glaze of rain – and the people they meet. It doesn’t matter whether they are high-spending tourists in a five-star hotel or back-packers at a hostel, the quality of the welcome they receive makes the difference as to whether they will return.
That is why the old, céad míle fáilte response represents a vital element in rebuilding our hospitality sector. The incidence of sudden wealth in our society was accompanied by displays of indifference and bad manners. Now that a reality check has been imposed by harsh economic circumstances, we have an opportunity to put things right.
Special hotel deals have become a feature of the industry. And the bulk of hotel customers are drawn from the home market. Later this month, families will be encouraged to use the mid-term school break as an occasion for rest and recuperation. They should seize the opportunity.