In September this year, a new landmark was unveiled in Dundalk as the Crowne Plaza Hotel was opened to the public for the first time. General Manager David Monks is delighted with their success so far and is eager for more. Dundalk as one of Ireland's gateway towns has benefited from a new road network, commercial and residential growth in the last few years, which is a situation that has shown no signs of slowing up. The town offers a wide range of amenities to anyone interested in spending time in the locality and they would be well advised to check out the Crowne Plaza, if they are looking to stay overnight. Of course, the brand name Crowne Plaza is known throughout the world and in total there are 3,700 hotels in the franchise across the globe. The venue in Dundalk is the latest in the chain, but does not disappoint when it comes to luxury, space and reliability. This hotel is owned and operated by Tifco Limited under licence from Six Continents Hotels, Inc. "We opened our doors on September 18th and I must say that we have been busy. There was quite a bit of marketing done to promote the hotel such as advertising on bill boards, Air Coaches and in other areas," said David. "However, there is still a lot of work to be done before our targets are reached, but we are well on course for that at the moment. The Crowne Plaza chain is well known throughout the world and its reputation precedes itself." David admitted that the location of the hotel is also a major plus in attracting business and he believes that Dundalk has a huge future ahead of it. "The hotel is just minutes from the M1, 45 minutes from Dublin Airport and 45 minutes from Belfast. It is the ideal stay for your weekend away and close to the seaside resort of Carlingford and other attractions such as Dundalk Ice Dome, Dundalk All Weather Race Track, Boyne Valley, Dundalk Sportsbowl and much more. "Dundalk is certainly a growing town and the economic growth has attracted many corporate businesses to the area and we hope to build a good business relationship with them." It's just minutes from Dundalk Train Station and the buzzing town centre, along with various business parks and the Institute of Technology. So what has the Dundalk Crowne Plaza to offer all interested parties? "The hotel is a 4 star 14 storey building offering 129 superbly designed en-suite bedrooms. Fahrenheit Grill is a restaurant on the 13th floor with breathtaking views of the Cooley Peninsula and the Irish Sea, while there are conference and banqueting facilities for up to 400 people, 250 complimentary parking spaces, and a fully equipped gymnasium. Of the 129 rooms in the hotel, each one has been designed with one of four themes in mind, Summer, Spring, Autumn and Winter and no matter which guests stay in, they will be treated to sheer comfort, quality and style. Unlike many hotels, each of the double rooms feature a king sized bed, and the twin accommodation has two double beds. David also revealed that the Hotel will be looking to build a rapport with the GAA in the county. With conference and banqueting facilities available, the Crowne Plaza is sure to cater for every need. "We would certainly be hoping to build a relationship with GAA clubs and the county board and they would be well looked after if they choose the hotel as a venue for their respective functions," added the Clare native. Football is a hugely important factor of life in the county and with over 40 clubs throughout in Louth, there is plenty of attention given to the game. "I played football in my younger days with Ballyvaughan in Clare and have seen what it takes to run a GAA club. The effort and expense can be astronomical and that is why we will be offering good deals for all GAA functions." The Crowne Plaza has become one of the major employers in the town also as 100 people are employed on a full time basis, while there are more employed part time. With two further hotels in Dublin (Crowne Plaza Dublin Northwood and Conference Centre Dublin Airport), the chain is a large employer in the country and has played its part in the growth of the economy. Like all new businesses, David revealed that there were a number of promotional offers on at present to help entice new clients to the hotel. "Firstly, Crowne Plaza on Ice is a Christmas package which gives guests the chance to sample the luxury of the hotel, while also spending time at the fabulous Ice Dome, all for a very competitive rate. "There is also a wedding worth ?30,000 to be won where couples can enter a competition and the lucky winners will have their dream wedding paid for by us. "The hotel can cater for up to 320 people in our grand Hamilton Suite, and for the smaller affair, our Tallon Suite, accommodates up to 180 people. "Our dedicated wedding team is available to assist the happy couple with all their wedding arrangements and help them to choose the right wedding menu. The experienced team can explain all the options available for the wedding, reception drinks, dinner, and evening buffet taking away what can be very stressful to arrange alone." For anyone just looking for a relaxing night out, the Fourteenbelow is a stylish bar and lounge open to residents and non-residents. It offers an extensive lounge menu and is ideal for relaxing over light snacks, casual meetings or afternoon tea. It is a modern, contemporary and stylish bar leaving you feeling relaxed and at ease in luxurious surroundings. There is no doubt that the Crowne Plaza Dundalk is set for an exceptionally bright future. The site has already become a landmark in the town given its view from 14-stories and who knows maybe a certain Sam Maguire may be staying in the very near future. Tweet

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