Ashford Castle manager says getting back to Level 2 is vital

CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC Niall Rochford, General Manager of Ashford Castle.  Pic: Michael Donnelly

Cong
Anton McNulty

With the lights of Ashford Castle turned off for the next six weeks, its General Manager Niall Rochford was in defiant mood. He is confident that whatever level the country finds itself in at the start of December, the lights will be back on in Ashford Castle.
“We are fighters here, and we will do what we can to make it work,” the Limerick native told The Mayo News, the day after the country officially entered Level 5 restrictions.
In the spring, Ashford Castle, a five-star luxury hotel, and its sister hotel, The Lodge at Ashford Castle, as well as the wider estate, were closed for 100 days before reopening again in July.

Domestic support
Niall says that this time around, they will be more prepared for leaving Level 5.
“This is different, we know what we are up against and we know more about the virus and how to protect ourselves from the virus. The first closing there was more of a novelty factor to it... it feels like Groundhog day somewhat but we are much better prepared.
“We have plans in place, and in six weeks time we know how we are going to reopen. But in March it was very much the unknown; there was no guidebook. This time around we have more information to protect our staff and our guests.”
Eighty percent of the hotel’s business comes from the overseas market, and with travel restricted the projections were not good when they did reopen in the summer. However, Niall explained they were  pleasantly surprised by how successful the summer was for them and by the support shown by the Irish market. They were able to tailor their business to make the summer a sustainable and successful one.
Level 3 meant visitors could not travel outside their own county, but the hotel’s serendipitous positioning on the county boundary meant they were able to attract visitors from both Mayo and Galway. While the novelty of this filled a few rooms, continuing on Level 3 or higher into the future would not be sustainable long term, and Niall is hoping we open up back on Level 2.
“Before we went to Level 3, October, November and December were looking strong, believe it or not, from a domestic market. But when it went to Level 3 there were days when there were no guests. We filled when Galway guests knew they could stay in the castle and Mayo guests knew they could stay in The Lodge. We are getting great support from the people of Galway and Mayo.
“If it is Level 3 we will reopen, but it won’t be sustainable. It won’t be a sustainable model to reopen and only be able to welcome Mayo guests to The Lodge and Galway guests to the castle. Our industry is on its knees to be honest, and it is very difficult, but we will play our part in this.
“We have always played our part in this, we are a very responsible industry and a responsible hotel and we will continue to be so. But I am in this industry for a long time, and this is as difficult as it has been. But we are resilient as well, and by God we will get out the other side.”

Pulling together
As during the first lockdown, the staff of 420 who are employed between the castle and The Lodge will remain on, which is important to Niall, as he described them as ‘our greatest resource’.
While he acknowledges the tough job that both NPHET and the Government has on their hands, he would like to see a target set that the public can work towards in order to reopen in Level 2 and avoid some of the uncertainty.
Ensuring they reopen in Level 2 at the start of December would mean business will be a ‘little bit more viable’.
Niall says that everyone has to be part of the solution. “The concern is people won’t buy into this when everyone has to buy into this. We all have a part to play in this and follow all the guidelines and do the right thing over the next six weeks to see if we can get to Level 2 any time in the future.
“I keep communicating this with the staff and pleading with the staff to make sure everyone is doing the right thing and ask their family and friends to do the right thing and follow the protocols.
“If we don’t, this is only going to go one way. That is the nightmare scenario. All of us as individuals have a part to play and be part of the solution … every single one of us.”
While the next six weeks will be difficult for the business Niall says they will have to make the best of what they can and be ready to reopen again.
“We will be busy and continue to train our staff and develop our team during the lockdown as well, so we won’t be looking for things to do when we reopen again at the beginning of December.
“Ashford Castle will always be here … We will continue while this pandemic is here, and beyond.”