Contracting

The overall function of the Contracting department is to secure the best rates (and inventory where applicable) from all of our suppliers in Ireland.

We contract rates with hotels, guides, coach companies, visitor attractions, car hire companies, activities, entertainment venues, ferry companies and hostels.

We secure group allocations (25 or 50 rooms per night) in hotels in key locations around Ireland (including Dublin, Kerry, Belfast, Limerick and Galway).

We secure FIT allocations (approx. 500 rooms per night) in hotels all over the island of Ireland. These allocations are available for sale to clients of Abbey and also to clients of Moloney & Kelly.

We issue contracts (with rates, terms & conditions etc) to approx. 200 guides each year, across the main European languages, working in conjunction with the Customer Care teams.

We put contracted rates in place each year with approx. 20 key coach company suppliers.

We agree rates with over 200 visitor attractions, activities and entertainment venues each year.

We agree rates with ferry companies linking Ireland to the UK and Europe and also with local ferry companies linking islands to the mainland.
We agree rates with hostels and other budget accommodation providers in the key cities in Ireland, primarily Dublin.

We are also responsible for the following:

Management of the planning process, booking process and budgets for staff familiarization trips in Ireland
Booking of coaches for all ad-hoc groups for Abbey in Ireland
Co-ordination of all presentations given by suppliers (hotels, visitor attractions etc) in the Dublin offices
Co-ordination of all invitations received from Irish suppliers