Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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617. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider asking Failte Ireland to standardise check in and check out times for hotels in Ireland (details supplied) [59472/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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My Department and Fáilte Ireland do not currently have any role in determining or standardising check-in and check-out times for hotels in Ireland.

The specific arrangements for check in and check out times at individual hotel properties are an operational matter for the accommodation provider, to manage the balance of their logistical requirements for room turnaround with the attractiveness and value of their offer to the visitor.

As such, those arrangements are the sole responsibility of the business owner.

Businesses, such as hotels and other accommodation providers, are free to design their own service offerings, including check-in and check-out times, and to operate their own terms and conditions when contracting with consumers to supply goods and services. This flexibility allows businesses to compete for business by offering different options for consumers such as early check-in, late check-out, or tailored packages.

In a competitive market, hotels are motivated to attract guests by offering more convenient options, including check-in and check-out times. This gives consumers the ability to choose the option that best suits their preferences.

For example, if hotels agree to set the same check-in and check-out times, they remove an important area of competition. This could mean:

• Less choice for consumers, as all hotels offer the same timings.
• Fewer incentives for hotels to offer better service, like early check-in or late check-out.
• Higher costs, as hotels may start charging extra for services that might otherwise be free, knowing customers have no better alternatives.