GALWAY
SAVINGS: The four-star, 89-room Ardilaun House Hotel in Galway, a
Select Hotels of Ireland property, is offering special rates this
summer. For example, two nights bed and breakfast plus one dinner
starts at $200 per person, double, with three nights plus an
additional dinner priced at $260, Sundays to Thursdays in July.
Come August, the two-night deal is $242 per person, with three
nights at $338, until Aug. 14. Limerick-based Select Hotels pays
negotiated commissions, starting at a base rate of 10%. Visit www.ardilaunhousehotel.ie or www.selecthotelsireland.com; e-mail to [email protected]; or call (011) 353-6
144-0440.
NEW
HEIGHTS: Aer Lingus was named Airline of the Year 2005 by
the Chambers of Commerce of Irelands Air Transport Users Council
(ATUC), an accolade it last won in 2003; the Irish flag carrier now
billing itself a low-cost, low-fare airline also was named best
airline to the U.K./Europe and on transatlantic routes. More good
news: Aer Lingus officials said bookings are up 18% over last year.
For more, visit www.aerlingus.com.
US,
TOO: Meanwhile, the low-fare folks over at Dublin-based
Ryanair announced a 31% increase in passengers, to nearly 3
million, for the month of June. The monthly load factor the
proportion of available seats filled by passengers was 87%, same as
it was in June 2004. In the past 12 months, Ryanair has carried
29.6 million passengers, with an overall load factor of 84%. From
Ireland, Ryanair serves more than 40 airports in Europe and the
U.K., with flights from Irish cities Cork, Derry, Dublin, Kerry,
Knock and Shannon. For more, see www.ryanair.com.
NEW FOR
GOLFERS: An18-hole, par 72 golf course will open in August at Tower
Hotel Groups new four-star Castleknock Hotel and Country Club just outside
Castleknock in County Dublin. The $30 million, 144-room resort
which opened in February just five
miles from Dublin and eight miles from Dublin Airport
also offers conference, dining and leisure/spa facilities. For
more, visit www.castleknockhotel.com or www.towerhotelgroup.com.