Four brand new hotels and over 600 new hotel rooms coming to Galway in the near future

If all proposed projects are completed, hotel bedroom supply in Galway will increase by 20%.

The hotel industry in Galway is about to undergo a significant change in the coming years with four brand new hotels and over 600 new hotel rooms potentially coming to the city from 2020 onwards. A new study by Savills Ireland revealed that there are four new builds and six hotel extensions in the pipeline, which in total, if all are completed, will provide over 600 new hotel rooms for Galway. Three new builds on Prospect Hill (three-star, 139 rooms), the Connacht Laundry site (four-star, 136 rooms) and Spinnaker House (three-star, 26 rooms) have been granted planning permission, while a proposed development on Market Street (three-star, 200 rooms) is awaiting planning permission. Extensions are also planned for Park House Hotel, Glenlo Abbey Hotel, Travelodge Galway City, Menlo Park Hotel and the Maldron Hotel on Sandy Road, all of which, apart from the Maldron Hotel, have been granted planning permission. The extension to Park House is currently underway, but according to Savills, the majority of the proposed development is planned from 2020, with very little due for delivery before then. Unlike previous years, meanwhile, hotel development will be focused in the city as opposed to out of town locations. As of 2017, there are 3,218 rooms in Galway City, a supply which will increase by 20% if the projects are completed. Commenting on the proposed developments, Aaron Spring, Associate Director of Hotels & Leisure at Savills Ireland, said: “Development finance remains difficult to secure, coupled with strong build cost price inflation. However, the aspiration for new hotel development in Galway remains strong – and with good reason. “Galway has traditionally enjoyed many high season events – such as the Galway Races, Arts Week etc. but current occupancy levels indicate demand is becoming less seasonal.”