An Irish senator has hit out at hotels in Dublin for "exorbitant" hotel prices on St Patrick's Day weekend, as he says it creates a bad image for Irish tourism.
Clare Senator Timmy Dooley was speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this week after claims of price gouging in hotels ahead of St Patrick's Day, with some hotels charging up to €2,400 for single rooms. Senator Dooley commented: "It sends a really negative signal to people coming to stay in Dublin."
He noted that on Friday night, one room in a 5 star hotel in the capital would cost €900-1200, a 4 star hotel €500-700, 3 star hotel €450-650, and guest houses offering a place with a room for up to €900. Senator Dooley said that he doubted many people would pay that for a hotel room in Dublin., and is he believes the hotel federation are going to "work much harder at encouraging their members not to sell the last six or seven rooms at exorbitant prices."
