BRAND NEW SERIES STARTS RTÉ ONE 
SUNDAY 9TH JANUARY 2011, 7.30 PM

Expert hoteliers Francis and John Brennan return to our screens this Sunday for a brand new series of ‘At Your Service’.

The Brennan brothers are proprietors of the famous 5-star Park Hotel Kenmare, County Kerry. In this, their third series, they’ll be helping the owners of B&Bs, guesthouses and hotels throughout Ireland who are struggling to keep their businesses afloat, and this year they even go “glamping” as they help revive a campsite.

The Brennans bring with them many years of top-level experience, but with the recession raging, the challenges are bigger and the stakes higher than ever before.

In each show, the Brennans assess a business from top to bottom and identify areas that need improvement. In the current economic climate every possible avenue has to be exploited and the Brennans look at websites, signage, reception areas, lounges, bedrooms, kitchens, service arrangements, staffing, menus, local tourist attractions, etc. Although every business has a unique set of problems the overall mantra is clear – you have to adapt to survive.

This year’s series covers a wide range of properties, from an ambitious conversion of a Dublin guesthouse, to introducing “glamping”, or glamorous-camping, at a 43-pitch caravan and campsite in Battlebridge. The Brennans visit businesses that are not achieving their full potential and others where the owners have lost their way, their energy and their money. It’s not always an easy ride - for many the Brennans advice is hard to take on board.

The properties featured in this year’s series are:

Lough Key House, Lough Key Forest Park, Co Roscommon
We meet larger-than-life character Frances McDonagh who is desperate to turn her grand country house into a successful, profitable business.

The Royal Valentia, Valentia Island, Co Kerry
This summer is the last chance for this 21-room historic guesthouse but Dubliners Vincent and Fiona Kidd have run out of money and ideas. 

Ouvane Falls, Nr. Bantry, West Cork
Local school bus driver Noreen Mullins has ambitions to be her own boss and has bought a lease on this 15 room B&B and restaurant. Can the Brennans get her ready for her first summer in charge?

The Strand, Kilkee, Co Clare
A number of bad summers have devastated this family run beachfront B&B and restaurant, yet beneath the problems and poor image the Brennans believe there’s potential for a fantastic product.

The Blue Door, Wexford
The Brennans have big ideas for this 6 room B&B, but are their plans too much for owner Derek Mullins?

Beirne's of Battlebridge, Camping & Caravan Site, Co Roscommon
The Brennans set about transforming a family run campsite, marina and pub but is the introduction of “glamping” a step too far?

Phoenix Park House, Dublin
Filmed over a year, the Brennans attempt to prevent this ambitious conversion project from going seriously off the rails.

The Windsor Inn, Cork City
Mick Hannifin needs to future-proof his pub and B&B before the birth of his first child, but despite terrible reviews the Brennans initially find it difficult to convince him to invest. 

The series starts on RTÉ One on Sunday 9 January 2011 at 7.30pm.

8 x 30 minutes

Series Producer: Richard Weller
Executive Producers for Waddell Media: Maggi Gibson and Jannine Waddell
Executive Producers for RTÉ: Seán Mac Giolla Phadráig and Stephanie Fitzpatrick

January 2011