I am delighted to be here this afternoon to unveil the AA’s 5 Star Award, which has been granted to the Marriott Druid’s Glen Hotel and Country Club. This award is a real tribute to Marriott International and to the excellent management and staff of this fine hotel.
I understand too that this award comes hot on the heels of Druid’s Glen being voted European Golf Resort of the year for 2005. That is an honour that is keenly sought after by many in the industry. It is a testament to your professionalism and service that you were judged by golfers in no less than 32 countries to obtain the award. And it is particularly encouraging to see that Druid’s Glen clinched the award because its customers gave it the edge on value for money. That is particularly important at a time when the tourism business in Ireland, especially in hotels and resorts, is facing ever-stronger competition in an intense global market.
The AA 5 Star accolade adds even further to the reputation, which Marriott Druid’s Glen has consolidated so rapidly in the three short years since it opened. It is one of only six hotels in Ireland and the first and, so far, the only hotel in County Wicklow, to achieve AA 5 Star status.
Awards like this motivate a hotel to achieve ever-greater standards of excellence in all areas of service and to inspire others to follow their example. Druid’s Glen demonstrates these standards further through its successful participation on the Fáilte Ireland Optimus Programme. This support framework helps businesses achieve excellence in all aspects of their operation. The standards required in the Optimus Programme are based on those of the best hotels in Europe.
The growth of Marriott International in Ireland is a sign of the confidence that both international and local entrepreneurs have in the Irish economy and especially in Irish tourism. We are currently enjoying massive investment in new hotels and in the renovation and modernisation of older, more familiar hotels in all parts of the country. The days are long gone when a hotel was just a place for a bed for the night. International visitors, and Irish people alike, now expect top grade leisure and sporting facilities, alongside quality accommodation. And today, they can rest assured they will get such quality in hotels like Druid’s Glen.
As I mentioned already, these are challenging times for the hotel industry, which provides more than 50,000 jobs in Ireland. You will rightly ask of course - when were times not challenging? When was there not a great commercial risk in looking several years ahead to make the large investments needed? Nevertheless, these first few years of the new millennium have seen your markets become extremely tight and competitive. The Fáilte Ireland Hotel Survey for 2004 shows room occupancy rates, countrywide, remaining relatively unchanged at 60% over the past four years. We must remember however, that there has been an increase in capacity of 8,000 hotel rooms over that period in Ireland, including in newer establishments like this one.
These are early days for this year’s figures but indicators to the start of the summer show that there has been a growth in hotel business compared to 2004. This has translated into improved profitability. Our accommodation stock remains of a very high quality and the latest visitor satisfaction ratings from Fáilte Ireland remain very encouraging. Today gives me good confidence to think that it will remain that way over the coming years.
Golf is also an important contributor to Irish tourism. And recent years have seen astounding development, through public and private investment, with numerous world-class championship courses being opened like the two you have here - Druid’s Glen and the more recently developed Druid’s Heath. All of these new courses have been designed, built and maintained to the highest standards. And as a result we have managed to attract some of the world’s top events, with leading professionals in the game, over the past few years.
This has resulted in massive media coverage and has placed Ireland firmly on the world sporting map. And now we are setting our eyes ever closer on the upcoming jewel in the crown - when for the first time in its illustrious history the Ryder Cup will be contested in Ireland next year. With the Europeans hoping for a hat-trick of wins in this greatest of golf challenges, we know this event will bring great benefits to Irish golf, Irish sport and Irish tourism.
With quality accommodation and amenities for visitors and players alike assured in hotels like Druid’s Glen, I have no doubt that Ireland will continue to attract major events such as the Ryder Cup to Ireland in the coming years.
Before I conclude I understand that the Marriot Hotel Group itself has suffered as a result of Hurricane Katrina in the United States last week. We were all shocked and dismayed at the devastation and death caused by the hurricane. This terrible tragedy, coming only eight short months after the Tsunami in the Indian Ocean, reminds us that natural disasters are sadly becoming more and more commonplace in our world today. Our sympathies go to all of those affected by what has happened, including the Marriot Group itself.
Finally, may I once more congratulate B.J. and his excellent management and staff here at Marriott Druid’s Glen on obtaining the AA 5 Star accolade. It certainly adds to your ever-growing reputation for excellence at the very top of the hotel and sports resort market.
I wish you all continuing success in the many years ahead of you.
Thank you.
ENDS