Rates bills are crippling hotels

A survey by the Irish Hotels Federation has found that the average rates bill per room for a Westmeath hotel is €957.78 The federation says such levels of local authority rates were crippling an industry that was already under massive pressure. The newly elected President of the Irish Hotels Federation, Paul Gallagher, told delegates at its AGM in Galway last week that local authority rates was the most pressing issue affecting the viability of hotels and guesthouses in the current environment, with 87 per cent of respondents indicating that rates are having a significant negative impact on their businesses. The IHF called on the Government to ensure a 30% reduction across the rates nationwide for the sector.However, the Westmeath rates bill per room was the fourth lowest in the country, behind Waterford, Clare and Longford (the lowest). The average rates bill per room nationally is €1,317.24. Roscommon's four hotels pay an average rates bill per room of €1,353.97, the country's seventh highest.