B&B Ireland has announced that it is looking for more properties, particularly in popular tourist destinations across the island of Ireland, as a result of ongoing demand from its international tour operator partners. The organisation is responsible for bringing half a million tourists a year into the B&B sector through its global promotion of the Irish B&B experience.
This year marked the return of international visitors with large numbers travelling from France, Germany, and the United States. The domestic market also remained strong, with Irish people continuing to stay in B&Bs after a resurgence in people holidaying at home during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Helena Healy, CEO of B&B Ireland, said the organisation remains optimistic about next year. “Thankfully 2022 has been a good year for our members," she added. "The return of international visitors and the continued use of B&Bs by the domestic market resulted in a good summer season. We’re looking forward to the continued recovery of Irish tourism in 2023 with cautious optimism. There is great demand from our trade partners for next year and beyond, which is why we’re always on the lookout for new B&B properties, especially in tourist hot spots.”
This week, bed and breakfast operators from across Ireland gathered in Galway to mark the 50th anniversary of B&B Ireland.
The organisation has members across the country including a strong presence in Northern Ireland. More than 100 B&B owners have convened at the Ardilaun Hotel in Galway for a three day event which includes a gala dinner and working session about the 2023 season.
Paul O’Toole, the new chairman of B&B Ireland, said: “This is the first opportunity for our members to have a proper catch up and network since the start of the pandemic. One of the main aims of B&B Ireland is to support B&Bs to operate their business and to advocate on their behalf. Facilitating meaningful connections between our members is an important part of that. It has been a challenging few years but the resilience of our members is inspiring. It was wonderful to see friendships rekindled and new ones formed over the last few days. Members also had the opportunity to explore Galway and enjoy a well earned break after a busy summer.”
More information for new B&B owners and those interested in listing their property with B&B Ireland is available at www.bandbireland.com/join
