This article is from page 3 of the 2006-02-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
SIPTU officials at Shannon are to meet with the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen later today to discuss the future of the 60 workers at the Great Southern Hotel in Shannon.
Concerns have also been expressed about the “far reaching consequences” for workers whose jobs depend on work generated from the group.
The Shannon hotel has links with the Shannon College of Hotel Management.
Following news last week that the Great Southern Hotel Group was to be sold off by the Dublin Airport Authority as a going concern, workers in Shannon have asked for assurances that their jobs are safe.
SIPTU officials met with the workers yesterday evening (Monday) prior to the meeting in Dublin today.
A spokesperson for SIPTU Shannon told The Clare People that the union was still not certain that chain of hotels would be sold.
The Government has yet to approve the decision to sell the Great Southern Hotel’s assets.
The SIPTU official expressed disappointment with the Minister for Tourism and Sport, John O’Donoghue, who had previously indicated he wanted to see the hotels remain within the state sector.
Although the minister did not say he changed his mind, last week, he did state the proposed sale was inevitable.
In a statement released during the week, the Dublin Airport Authority confirmed its decision to employ an adviser to assist with the disposal of its hotels, which employs more than 800 people throughout the country.
The Great Southern Hotel group has one of the largest wage bills in the hotel industry, with payroll costs accounting for 46 per cent of the hotels’ turnover.
That is 12 per cent higher than most hotels in the country.
The hotels have been valued in excess of €100 million, and are expected to reach far in excess of this, despite recording losses of €6 million.
One of those mooted as a possible buyer of the chain is Lisdoonvarna native, Bernard McNamara.
According to reports at the weekend, the former Fianna Fáil councillor is understood to be in talks with another businessman about taking over the nine hotels in the group, including Shannon.
McNamara now owns the fourthlargest building construction firm in the country and is a part owner of Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel. He is estimated to be worth €50 million and now lives on the exclusive Ailesbury Road in Dublin.