Hotels group to expand into Newry

The Belfast Telegraph
Laurence White
28 February 2005

Newry is to get a new 75-bedroom hotel next year. The hotel, which will also feature eight meeting rooms, a restaurant and bar and roof terrace, will be among the first of a new hospitality brand to enter Ireland.

The Park Inn brand is part of the Rezidor SAS Hospitality group and is described as a mid-market brand. The first two hotels carrying the brand will open at Dundalk and Mulranny in Co Mayo next month and the next two in Newry and Ballinasloe 12 months from now.

Kurt Ritter, president and CEO of Rezidor SAS Hospitality, said: "Ireland is an important growth market for the group and, following the success of Radisson SAS, the introduction of the Park Inn brand is a logical step forward.
"With our aim to have 700 hotels by 2012 Park Inn will be Rezidor's growth brand and we hope to have 150 hotels in operation and construction by the end of 2006."

Park Inn Mulranny is a renovation of the Mulranny Great Southern which originally opened in 1897 and which was described as 'the jewel in the crown' of the Great Southern Hotels chain. Situated on a hill, it has spectacular views of Clew Bay and is a short walk from the blue flag beaches of the area.

There are a wide range of activities available nearby, including fishing, water sports, hill walking and climbing, golf, horse riding and boat cruises. The hotel will have 80 rooms, a restaurant and lounge, three meeting rooms and a large leisure facility including an indoor swimming pool, a sauna and a Jacuzzi.

The Dundalk Park Inn is situated just off the main Dublin to Belfast road. It will offer 84 bedrooms, a restaurant, a pub and Dundalk's newest nightclub, Sky. The largest of its three conference rooms will be able to accommodate 400 delegates and fitness facilities will include a gymnasium, a swimming pool and an outdoor sporting complex.

Park Inn Ballinasloe will offer 70 bedrooms, a restaurant, bar and large function room. It will also have a 'wellness' centre, fitness facilities and a swimming pool.

The first Park Inn in the UK opened in May last year at Heathrow and is being extended to include a conference and event centre, new restaurant and bar. It has 880 bedrooms. Currently operating 49 hotels, the Park Inn brand has aggressive growth projections and plans to become Europe's top mid-market hotel brand.