‘If you ask me any day, were we busy? I would say no’ – tourism sector walks a tightrope between gloom and optimism

‘If you ask me any day, were we busy? I would say no’ – tourism sector walks a tightrope between gloom and optimism

Industry leaders feeling the pressure of an inconsistent summer and the uncertainty around the impact tariffs might have on US visitors

John Brennan says it has been an inconsistent summer in the sector

Hotel veteran John Brennan is not usually stuck for words, particularly when it comes to the topic of hospitality. But ask him how the tourist season is panning out and, right now, he struggles to describe it.

“In 40 years in business, it is the most difficult year for me to give you an answer to that question, because financially we’re better than last year but it doesn’t feel busy, and that’s what I hear from loads of people,” he says.