Coming soon to a woodland near you...
CENTERPARCS will be coming to Ireland in summer 2019 after securing planning consent last year.
Situated at Longford Forest, work has already begun on the infrastructure of the resort which will have 470 lodges and 30 apartments.
Similar to the established UK parks, it will also offer a wide choice of outdoor family activities, a spa, a range of restaurants, shops and cafes.
Centerparcs Head of PR, Simon Kay,
told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “This is the first time we have gone overseas as the Centerparcs resorts in mainland Europe are run by an entirely separate company. So it’s a very exciting time for us.
“There’ll be a fantastic amount of forest and space at Longford as well as the same number of activities.
“The fundamental ingredients of our brand will stay almost exactly the same.
“However, we’re very conscious about the food and beverages offered and will
be looking at Irish tastes and brands to diversify the resort a little.
“So there’ll be many elements which are designed specifically for the Irish market.”
The Subtropical Swimming Paradise will also be a key attraction at Longford Forest. Simon explained: “The size of the swimming pool will be the same as those in the UK sites.
“It may be a bold statement but, from the research we’ve done, there won’t be
a swimming complex of this size in Ireland. “The central lake will be huge, offering a wide range of water sports for all ages.”
At present, the UK resorts run at a 98 per cent occupancy throughout the year which, Simon admitted, will take a few years to match in Longford.
He added: “Word of mouth will be a massive driver for bookings.
“It’s usually the case that potential guests will know somebody who’s been to the resort,
had a great time and can recommend it. So we’ve got to get those people through in the first couple of years.
“Essentially, Longford Forest is introducing a new sector to the market which is the short break of four to five days.
“We’ll not be competing with the traditional two-week summer break.
“Rather it will be a ‘shot’ of quality time for families to spend together.”
mark.mccreary@trinitymirror.com