Irish Hotels Federation

Lobbying Organisation Irish Hotels Federation

Date published 21 Jan, 2025

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Tourism

Period 1 Sep, 2024 to 31 Dec, 2024

Specific Details Seeking Government measures to support the continued recovery of Ireland's tourism and hospitality industry

Intended results Action to offset escalating operating costs for hospitality businesses A reduction in the rate of VAT for hospitality food services Additional supports for employees on off-the-job training schemes Additional funding for more targeted environmental sustainability supports for hotels A lifting of the cap on passenger numbers for Dublin Airport Measures to tackle the cost of insurance for tourism and hospitality business Measures to attract greater insurance competition into the market Increased investment in Tourism Marketing & Development Additional funding for hospitality recruitment and career awareness, and targeted resources for training and skills development Increased access to finance for business development via State-supported financing solutions Exemption on taxes for tips and gratuities paid to employees Enhanced regional air access A commitment to funding and delivering the Corks Events Centre The placement of tourism and hospitality within a Government Department with an economic portfolio, such as a reconfigured Department of Enterprise, Tourism, Trade and Employment. Seeking support at an EU-level for measures to boost tourism investment and support sustainable tourism.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Fenn (Chief Executive of the Irish Hotels Federation)

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? To contact TDs and Senators seeking their support for a reduction to 9% in the VAT rate for food-related services within the hospitality and tourism industry. To also seek support for a measures in relation to the cost of doing business challenges, removing the Dublin Airport passenger cap and an economic Department for Tourism & Hospitality.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members Email with media statement seeking support for a reduction in the VAT rate for food-related services within the hospitality and tourism industry

Email All Oireachtas Members Email with open letter seeking support for a reduction in the VAT rate for food-related services within the hospitality and tourism industry

Email All Oireachtas Members Email seeking support for a key measures to assist tourism and hospitality including a reduction in VAT for hospitality food services, measures to tackle cost of doing business challenges, removing the Dublin Airport passenger cap and an economic Department for Tourism & Hospitality

Email All Oireachtas Members Email with economic report and media statement support a reduction in the VAT rate for food-related services within the hospitality and tourism industry

Email All Oireachtas Members Emailed media statement calling for a direct intervention by the Government party leaders to address the growing economic challenges within the wider hospitality sector..

Email All Oireachtas Members Email seeking policy measures to support tourism and hospitality in advance of the general election, including a reduction in VAT on food services, tax exemption on employee tips, a dedicate Department of Tourism and measures in relation to cost of doing business, air access, training and skill, tourism marketing, sustainability and access to finance.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (21-30)

Seeking measures to offset escalating costs for hospitality businesses, support sustainability within the sector, increase investment, support training and recruitment, and enhance air access. and address the challenges facing the wider sector. An exemption on taxes relating to employee tips was also sought.

Email (2-5)

Seeking measures to offset escalating costs for hospitality businesses

Meeting (6-10)

Seeking a reduction in hospitality VAT and measures to tackle the cost of doing business.

Meeting (1)

Seeking MEP support at an EU-level for measures to boost tourism investment and support sustainable tourism. Also seeking support for the reinstatement of the 9% VAT rate on hospitality food services

Social Media (21-30)

Seeking a series of measures around reducing the cost of doing business, taxation, air access, training and development, investment in tourism marketing and access to finance.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Dara Calleary Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Alan Dillon Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Martin Heydon Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Colm Burke Minister of State (Department of Health)

Patrick O'Donovan Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Simon Harris An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Jack Chambers Minister (Department of Finance)

Peter Burke Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Micheál Martin Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Malcolm Noonan Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Catherine Martin Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Pippa Hackett Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Neale Richmond Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Kieran O'Donnell Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Hilegarde Naughton Minister of State (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Martin Heydon Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Sean Fleming Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Darragh O'Brien Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Roderic O'Gorman Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Justice)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Social Protection)

Charlie McConalogue Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Niall Collins Minister of State (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Stephen Donnelly Minister (Department of Health)

Dara Calleary Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Mary Butler Minister of State (Department of Health)

James Browne Minister of State (Department of Justice)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Christopher O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Nina Carberry MEP (European Parliament)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cowen MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP (European Parliament)

Jerry Buttimer Senator (Seanad)