Investors pump €230m into hotel sector

The hotel market is seeing competition increase between international and domestic investors, writes Donal Buckley.

The four-star Fitzwilton Hotel in Waterford city centre has a guide price of €2 million.

As two Irish hotel operations signalled major fundraising plans in recent days, it looks like international buyers and funds will face stiffer local competition when bidding begins for more valuable hotels which are expected to come to the market this year.

Last Wednesday, Dalata Group floated on the Irish stock market and signalled it had raised €250 million for hotel acquisitions. Chief executive Pat McCann also pointed out that its shareholders now include ...