Radisson SAS Is Now Radisson Blu

Radisson Hotels & Resorts announces that 170 Radisson SAS locations operated by The Rezidor Hotel Group in Europe, the Middle East and Africa are changing their names to Radisson Blu. The change is taking place because the SAS Group, former owner of Rezidor, sold the company in a public offering in November 2006 and no longer has a formal connection with the Radisson brand. Rezidor is the master franchisor of the Radisson brand in EMEA.
The new name was announced today by Kurt Ritter, president and CEO of The Rezidor Hotel Group, at the grand opening of the first Radisson Blu, the stunning new Radisson Blu Hotel at Zurich Airport in Switzerland. During the next year, the new name will be transitioned throughout the Radisson SAS portfolio in the EMEA.
The name change only applies to the 170 Radisson hotels operated by The Rezidor Hotel Group in the EMEA and does not include Radisson Edwardian Hotels in the United Kingdom or Radisson hotels operated in the Americas, Asia Pacific or other parts of the world.The word "Blu" is a stylized, shortened version of the word "blue", derived from the blue colored box that contained the "SAS" name on the original Radisson SAS logo and signage. The new name is designed to reflect both an international style and innovative, contemporary approach to hospitality that is reflected in the Radisson SAS portfolio.
"The Rezidor Hotel Group has achieved exceptional results in distinguishing the Radisson SAS brand as a fast-growing and contemporary leader in the global hotel industry," said Jay Witzel, president and CEO of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, the parent company of Radisson Hotels & Resorts. "We expect that this legacy of success will not only continue, but will accelerate, under the distinctive new name of Radisson Blu," he added.
"We are extremely proud to hoist the Radisson Blu flag," said Kurt Ritter, president and CEO of The Rezidor Hotel Group. "After many, very successful years as Radisson SAS, we are eager to fly the exciting new Radisson Blu name on an ever growing number of destinations," he added. "As Radisson Blu, we aim to become the fastest growing, most innovative and dynamic hotel brand in the world," he added.The Rezidor Hotel Group is the largest partner of Carlson Hotels Worldwide in the EMEA, operating the Carlson brands of Regent Hotels & Resorts; Radisson Hotels & Resorts; Park Inn and Country Inns & Suites. Carlson is also the largest single shareholder of Rezidor.

Irish Pannel Of Chefs

2008 CULINARY JUNIOR TEAM

The Irish Panel of Chefs (Junior team) (l-r) are: Katie Paterson, Siomha Guiney, George Smith, trainer, Bernard Tracy, Breid Devlin, captain, Margaret Roche and Bylys Dino.

The Irish Panel of Chefs (Junior Team), sponsored by Fáilte Ireland and VHI Healthcare, recently returned home from the 2008 Culinary Olympics with a bronze in the “Hot Kitchen” event and a silver in the buffet event. The Olympics is the most important global competition for chefs and the young Irish team competed against 53 countries during the four day event in Messe Erfurt in Germany. Four out of the six members of the team studied or are currently studying the Advanced Certificate in Professional Cookery, the Fáilte Ireland supported programme dedicated to producing professional chefs.

Irish Owned Carlton Group

Castletroy Park Hotel reopens as Carlton takes over









The Castletroy Park Hotel in Limerick is to reopen after a deal was struck with Carlton Hotel Group to take over the troubled business.

The Irish-owned Carlton Group, which operates seven four-star hotels around Ireland, has agreed a long-term lease with the Fordmount Group to take over the hotel.

The four-star, 107-room Castletroy Park Hotel closed its doors last week after 18 years, claiming “insurmountable trading difficulties”. About 130 jobs were on the line with the hotel's closure.
The hotel will now reopen within the next 10 days operating as the Carlton Castletroy Park Hotel, employing 120 full and part-time staff.

The Carlton Group said today that all deposits that were taken for events in the hotel will be honoured.

“We are particularly aware of the distress caused by the closure of the hotel to those who had booked weddings and events and would like to assure all customers that we will be in contact as soon as possible to confirm booking details," said chairman Michael Kearney.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan welcomed the announcement. "The Castletroy Park Hotel is not only an important landmark and facility in Limerick, it is also a substantial employer in the Castletroy area," she said.

Parma Developments Limited

New hotel to go ahead despite recession

The developers of a major retail and hotel scheme approved for the site of a former meat processing plant in Clonmel have stated that the development will go ahead, despite the recession.
Parma Developments Ltd has received planning permission from Clonmel Borough Council for the River Quarter development at their site on Abbey Road/Convent Road at the site of the former Fair Oak Foods plant.

A large proportion of the project will accommodate the retail element, which will comprise 10 shop units, including space for two anchor tenants.

The 86-bedroom hotel, conference facilities, bar and restaurant will occupy most of the remaining area in a development that's understood to be worth between €85 and €90 million.

River Quarter also includes the provision of 549 car parking spaces and 142 bicycle spaces, as well as a 160-metre boardwalk along the River Suir, which borders the development site to the south. The retail element of the scheme will cover two floors over basement, while the hotel and gym component will be on six storeys.Peter Levins, associate director with letting agents Bannon Commercial, said this week that there is clear demand for new development to boost Clonmel's retail and tourism infrastructure.

"We have held discussions with retailers who have active requirements for new stores in Clonmel. These include national retail brands seeking new space in Clonmel and local retailers who wish to relocate from their existing premises to larger, more modern properties.

This will add to the choice available to local shoppers and reduce the level of expenditure leaking to surrounding towns and counties. It will also increase competition to the benefit of consumers".

He said that while retailers had become more cautious in the current economic climate, it was recognised that Clonmel was under-serviced in certain categories of shopping for a town of its scale and catchment area."It is in this context that those considering locating in this new development have confirmed their interest in the scheme.

It is also a reality that the project will take time to build, so that there is ample time for economic recovery to be well underway before retailers begin to trade here",

Mr. Levins added.The meat processing plant in Upper Irishtown was one of the town's biggest employers for many years.

As it changed ownership through the years it was known as Chappey's, Clonmel Foods, Master Meats, Clonmel Chilling and Fair Oak Foods.Production at the plant ceased in the spring of 2004 and the site has been unoccupied since December 2006.

Castlemartyr Hotel

100 jobs on way as Dromoland Castle owner’s take-over Castlemartyr Hotel

Around 100 new jobs are on the way to Co Cork, following this afternoon's news that the owners of Dromoland Castle are taking over the former six-star Castlemartyr Hotel.
The luxury hotel opened last February, but closed in November because of the financial crisis.
The Board of Dromoland Castle said it had reached an agreement with the owners of the Castlemartyr and would re-open the hotel at the beginning of April.

Dublin hotels and restaurants in firing line over greasy output

Grease is the word - and we don't mean the musical













Grease discharged by Dublin hotels and restaurants has caused blockage and flooding that according to council officials is costing the capital up to €300,000 to fix.

Fine Gael Councillor Gerry Breen had complained on behalf of city businesses that now face seven sets of charges such as rates, water and refuse charges and claimed there is a threat of revolt over a charge to monitor grease traps

He outlined the story of one businessman who dished out €5,200 to install a grease trap and disposal system but then had to pay a €610 charge to have it inspected.

Assistant city manager Matt Twomey said there had been a lack of compliance among food establishments which leads to drain blockages.

Well known hotels in the city had caused the most recent blockages, leading to an emergency and expensive out of hours response.

Grease blockages must be removed by hand which he described as a 'rotten, messy job' that costs between €100,000 and €300,000 every time it is carried out.

A sewer pipe in Clontarf took a total of six weeks to clean, and Independent Cllr Bronwen Maher said grease had been responsible for a fish kill in St Anne's Park, Raheny.

A meeting of the council's environment committee today heard from Mr Twomey that as a private company had been hired to monitor grease traps 18 months ago, some 2,5000 tonnes of FOG has been removed from the city's drainage system.

Councillors expressed their worries about the cost four inspections a year – at up to €1,630 a time – to their businesses.

Mr Twomey, however, said the number of inspections would be brought down as food premises become more compliant.

He said when a first study was carried out in November 2003 only two out of 200 premises were found to have grease traps that worked properly

Green Hospiotality Award

EPA announces a successful first year for the Green Hospitality Award

Mr Michael Kitt T.D., Minister of State for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, today presented 54 businesses with the Green Hospitality Award.

This award recognises achievements in becoming more resource efficient, saving money by preventing waste, and conserving water and energy, while still offering a high quality guest experience.

This project, funded by the EPA National Waste Prevention Programme, is working with individual Irish hotels over a four-year period to significantly improve environmental management practices, prevent waste and encourage resource efficiency, while reducing operating costs for the sector.

Laura Burke, Director of the EPA Office of Climate, Licensing and Resource Use said:
“The EPA is delighted to recognise the achievements of the successful participants who have made savings of over €3 million in 2008 alone. This project has had a significant environmental impact in terms of less waste being produced, and less energy, water and raw materials being wasted.”

To date, over 80 members have gained a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award, making it one of the most significant schemes of its type in Europe. In addition, a number of special achievement awards were presented to outstanding properties. Typical savings that hotels in the scheme have made in 2008 include:

Water – Through the use of leak detection programmes and water efficient taps, showers and toilets, hotels involved in the programme have saved 280,000 cubic metres of water (600 swimming pools). This is equal to savings of between €5,000 and €100,000 per hotel.

Waste - By reducing packaging, preventing waste, increasing re-cycling and segregation the hotels have saved 4,000 tonnes (1,600 full skips) of landfill waste. This is equal to monetary savings of between €5,000 and €45,000 per hotel.

Energy – Energy awareness and management programmes, installation of energy efficient equipment and lighting and adoption of alternative energy sources has resulted in savings of between €10,000 and €100,000 per hotel, equal to 187,500 kWh per hotel, enough to light a 100w bulb in each hotel for 214 years.
Other actions include reducing chemical use, sourcing sustainable and local food, carbon offsetting, educating suppliers and customers and developing environmental policies.

James Hogan, Director, Green Hospitality Award, says
“The Green Hospitality Award is very attractive as it offers practical guidance and training on the implementation of environmental best practice. This is borne out by its rapid uptake in 2008, with 8% of Irish Hotels now accredited to the scheme, proving the commitment of those in the Irish Hotel business to a sustainable green Ireland.”

The target for 2009 is to expand the current membership of 180 hotels and catering firms to 300, expanding the scheme to other similar sectors, including contract catering, nursing homes and hospitals.

Information on the award nominees and winners is available in the Editor’s Note below. Further information on the Hotel and Hospitality Project and the National Waste Prevention Programme is available at http://www.ghaward.ie/ or http://www.nwpp.ie/.

The special category award nominees and winners are:
Green Hospitality Annual Award for Excellence - Member For the property that has shown consistent improvement and innovation. Nominees are:
Westport Woods Hotel, Co Mayo - Winner
Clarion Hotel, Cork
The Moorings Guesthouse, Portmagee, Co Kerry
Green Hospitality Annual Award for Excellence – Group/brand For the group/brand that has shown the greatest leadership in environmental sustainability.

Nominees are:
Radisson SAS Hotels - Winner
Carlton Hotels,
Talbot Hotels
Green Hospitality Special Award - Greenest DestinationFor the destination that provides hospitality environmental excellence
Westport , Co Mayo
Green Hospitality Annual Award for Best Awareness Programme For the property that has created an excellent staff awareness programme and incorporated it into the everyday culture of the organisation Nominees are:
Westin, Dublin- Winner
Radisson SAS Hotels
Maryborough House Hotel, Cork
Green Hospitality Annual Award for Most Improved - Waste Management For the property that has shown most improvement in their waste prevention and reduction. Nominees are:
Clarion Hotel, Dublin Airport- Winner
Radisson SAS Hotel, Dublin Airport
Fitzpatrick’s Castle Hotel, Killiney, Dublin
Green Hospitality Annual Award for Most Improved - Water Management For the property that has shown most improvement in their water reduction and management. Nominees are:
Carlton Atlantic Coast Hotel- Winner
Ferrycarrig Hotel, Wexford
Dromoland Castle
Green Hospitality Annual Award for Most Improved - Energy Management For the property that has shown most improvement in their energy conservation and management. Nominees are:
Clarion Hotel, Cork.
Radisson SAS Hotel, Little Island, Cork- Winner
Marriot Hotel, Druids Glen
Multi-staged accreditation awards (Gold, Silver, Bronze)
Gold Awards 2008

Carlton Atlantic Coast Hotel, Co. MayoClarion Hotel Cork, CorkClew Bay Hotel, Co. MayoDromoland Castle, Co. ClareJurys Inn Cork, CorkMaryborough House Hotel, Co. CorkRadisson SAS Hotel - Little Island, Co. CorkRadisson SAS Hotel - Dublin Airport, DublinThe Moorings Guesthouse, Co. KerryWestin Hotel, DublinWestport Woods & Spa Hotel, Co Mayo

Silver Awards 2008

Adare Manor Hotel, Co. LimerickBuswells Hotel, Dublin Campbells Catering , Boston Scientific, CorkCarlton Hotel Dublin Airport, DublinCarriage House Adare Manor, Co. LimerickCastlecourt Hotel, Co. MayoCastleknock Hotel & Country Club, DublinCastletroy Park Hotel, Co. LimerickClanard Court Hotel, Co. KildareClarion Hotel Dublin Airport, DublinClarion Hotel Dublin Liffey Valley, DublinCommodore Hotel, Co. CorkConnemara Coast Hotel, Co. GalwayDays Hotel Castlebar, Co. MayoDepartment of Tourism & Hospitality Studies, CIT, CorkDingle Skellig Hotel, Co. KerryDrury Court Hotel, DublinFitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel, Co. LimerickFitzpatricks Castle Hotel, DublinGlashaus Hotel Dublin SilverGlenview Hotel, Co. WicklowGrafton Capital Hotel, DublinHarvey's Point Country Hotel, Co. DonegalHayfield Manor Hotel, CorkKillarney Park Hotel, Co. KerryKillashee House Hotel, Co. KildareKnock House Hotel, Co. MayoMarriot Hotel Druids Glen, Co. WicklowMount Juliet Conrad Hotel, Co. KilkennyQuality Resort Hotel Killarney, Co. KerryRadisson SAS Hotel Farnham Estate, Co. CavanRadisson SAS Hotel Galway, Co. GalwayRadisson SAS Royal Hotel, DublinRadisson SAS St Helen's Hotel, DublinStillorgan Park Hotel. DublinTalbot Hotel Carlow, Co. CarlowTalbot Hotel Wexford, Co. WexfordTallaght Cross Hotel, DublinTullamore Court Hotel, Co. OffalyWestport Plaza Hotel, Co. Mayo
Bronze Award

Ardilaun House Hotel, Co. GalwayAshford Castle, Co. MayoBallymaloe House Hotel, Co. CorkBlue Haven Hotel, Co. CorkBrandon House Hotel, Co. WexfordCampbells Catering, EMC, Co. CorkCarlton Shearwater Hotel, Co. GalwayCliff House Hotel, Co. WaterfordClontarf Castle Hotel, DublinDolmen Hotel, Co. CarlowFerrycarrig Hotel, Co. WexfordFitzgeralds Vienna Woods Hotel, Co. CorkGalway Bay Hotel, Co. GalwayGarryvoe Hotel, Co. CorkGlenlo Abbey Hotel, Co. GalwayHeritage Hotel Portlaoise, Co. LaoisHillgrove Hotel, Co. MonaghanKillarney Avenue Hotel, Co. KerryKillarney Plaza Hotel, Co. KerryKillarney Towers Hotel Co. KerryMerrion Hotel, DublinOriel House Hotel, Co. CorkPark Inn Hotel Dublin, DublinRadisson SAS Hotel ( Limerick), Co. ClareRadisson SAS Hotel Athlone, Co. WestmeathRadisson SAS Hotel Letterkenny, Co. DonegalRadisson SAS Hotel Sligo, Co. SligoRiver Island Hotel, Co. KerrySeven Oaks Hotel, Co. CarlowThe D Hotel, Co. Louth