Campus accommodation located in Irish universities have been awarded Fáilte Ireland’s Welcome Standard.
University summer accommodation activity contributed over €160 million to the Irish economy in Summer 2018 and creates over 400 summer jobs annually.
Following a comprehensive assessment programme by Fáilte Ireland, over 8,000 campus accommodation bedrooms across Ireland’s seven universities have been successfully accredited as ‘approved tourist accommodation’.
It marks a significant development for the University sector which markets campus accommodation during the summer months for visitors staying in Ireland.
John O’Rourke, President of On Campus Ireland and Deputy Chief Operations Officer at Campus Life Services, University of Limerick, said: “For more than 20 years Ireland’s universities have made the most of their teaching and accommodation facilities over the summer months and year on year host international conferences and events welcoming domestic and international visitors to their campuses in their thousands.
“Achieving the Fáilte Ireland Welcome Standard quality assurance award across all University campuses is a testimony to the high quality guest experience and facilities on offer across the country from Dublin to Limerick, Maynooth, Galway and Cork from May to September each year. DCU, Maynooth University and University of Limerick offer guest accommodation options year round,” he added.
Activity at Trinity College Dublin contributed €32.5m to the economy in 2018 between summer accommodation and the highly popular Book of Kells visitor experience. The emphasis of the Fáilte Ireland Welcome Standard quality assurance programme places particular focus on the customer journey - meeting customer expectations and the quality of the overall experience.
According to Tara Kerry, Registrar and Hospitality Development Manager at Fáilte Ireland: “The Fáilte Ireland Welcome Standard recognises the University sector’s contribution to tourism and maintaining high standards and practices in the delivery of accommodation services in each campus location. Having over 8,000 bedrooms now accredited in University campus venues across the country is a welcome addition to our existing approved tourist accommodation stock in Ireland particularly in cities such as Dublin and Galway where demand exceeds supply.”
Speaking about the impact of the Fáilte Ireland Welcome Standard for University facilities John O’Rourke added: “Having achieved Fáilte Ireland accreditation the sector is now well placed on a trajectory for further growth meaning increased tourism activity and employment in regional Ireland as well as the cities. This is good news for Irish tourism and good news for visitors to Ireland looking for an alternative guest experience.”
Accommodation in any of Ireland’s University campuses can be booked online and rooms are available from May to September each year. For more, see www.oncampus.ie.
