Killarney hotel Aghadoe Heights targets growth
The Dalata Hotel Group — the owner of the Maldron and Clayton chains and the largest hotel operator in the country — operates the Co Kerry hotel on behalf of its owners, Aghadoe Hospitality Ltd.
According to Dalata chief executive Pat McCann, 2015 was “a very strong year” for the property, but more is expected.
“It was extremely good and we expect significant improvement in 2016,” said Mr McCann.
He added there has been a fair level of investment — valued “in the hundreds of thousands” of euro — in the hotel since it was purchased.
The hotel was once the jewel in the crown of developer and hotelier Jerry O’Reilly’s hotel portfolio before being sold for just over €6m to a fund in 2014.
The sale was undertaken by Mr O’Reilly’s Dalegrove Taverns Ltd and recently filed accounts show the firm recorded a loss of €1.4m on the disposal of its fixed assets on cessation of trade.
The Aghadoe Heights has 74 bedrooms, 30 of them suites, two bars, a restaurant, a modern gym, and a swimming pool that boasts panoramic views over the famous Killarney Lakes.
“There is a very high level of repeat customers at the hotel. It is a beautiful five-star hotel in a prime location,” said Mr McCann.
At the end of December 2014, the firm’s accumulated losses stood at €14.36m.
Numbers employed at the hotel firm in 2014 stood at 67, with staff costs totalling €1.1m
