Expert hoteliers Francis and John Brennan are back on our screens in the New Year for a brand new series of RTÉ’s One’s popular hospitality makeover show ‘At Your Service’.

8 more hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs enlist the expertise of the Brennan brothers in an attempt to bring new life to their businesses. They are all struggling to survive the economic downturn and successive poor summers. It’s a tough time for the hospitality industry; it’s more important than ever that the Brennan brothers come up with solutions.

“Even in today’s economic climate the opportunity to generate business exists”
John Brennan

Francis and John Brennan are brothers and proprietors of the famous 5-star Park Hotel Kenmare, Co. Kerry. They bring with them many years of top-level experience but with the recession raging the challenges get tougher every year. This year they inspire a whole town to hold a tourism festival, contend with the aftermath of a devastating fire at an equestrian centre and help new generations take over.

The Brennans assess each business from top to bottom and identify areas that desperately need improvement. In the current climate every possible avenue needs to be exploited and the Brennans look at websites, signage, receptions, lounges, bedrooms, kitchens, service arrangements, menus, target markets and even family politics. Each business has its unique set of problems but they all have one thing in common - if they want to stay in business they need to fight harder than ever before.

The Brennans stay overnight and while Francis conducts the main property inspection and devises an overall strategy John concentrates on financial and marketing plans, looking for more cost-effective ways of running the operation, investigating new revenue streams and money-making opportunities. These are not always quick fixes but long-term solutions that can be sustained after the Brennans have gone.

We visit businesses that are not reaching their full potential and others where the owners have lost their way, their energy and their money. And it’s not always an easy ride - for some the Brennan’s advice is hard to take on board.

This year’s series covers a wide range of properties; from an equestrian centre that has been gutted by fire, to a guesthouse with ambitions not only to update itself but also to regenerate the whole town. Throughout the series we see fundamental changes to the properties – change of use, radical changes of image and completely different business models.

The properties featured in this year’s series are:

The Phoenix B&B and Vegetarian Restaurant, Co Kerry
Free spirit Lorna Tyther is desperate for more business, but currently serves a rather niche market with her alternative looking rooms, traditional caravans, dreamy chalet and organic vegetarian restaurant. The question is – how will the Brennans move her into the mainstream without losing the essence of what she’s created?

Harbour House B&B, Courtown. Co Wexford
Donal and Margaret O’Gorman haven’t updated their 3 star guesthouse for more years than they care to admit. Not only do the Brennans suggest a complete makeover of Harbour House but they also encourage the O’Gormans in their plans to promote the town as a tourism destination. Together they inspire the whole of Courtown to clean up, take pride in the area and hold a successful summer tourism festival.

The Strand Inn, Dunmore East. Co Waterford
Brother and sister Clifden and Louise Foyle are taking control of their late father’s business, a 16-room inn in a stunning coastal location. Their bars and restaurants are doing reasonable business but they are totally underselling their potentially more profitable rooms. Clifden and Louise have big ideas, but can the Brennans ensure the siblings start making money - rather than just spending it?

Crossogue House and Equestrian Centre, Thurles. Co Tipperary
A first for the Brennans as they’re called in to help rebuild an equestrian holiday business. But it’s no easy task as a house fire over Christmas has devastated the interior of this grand Georgian country property. However, the Brennans see this potentially disastrous event as an opportunity to invigorate the business. But there’s a huge amount of redecoration work to be done, as well as the everyday running of the stables. With the summer season looming can owner Mark Molloy get the place up and running before his first bookings check in?

The Olde Glenbeigh Hotel, Glenbeigh, Co Kerry
The Brennans have big ideas for this 12 room traditional coaching inn with its fantastic location on the Ring of Kerry. But after 24 years in charge is owner Mary Keary ready to relinquish control to her young son Killian and his wife Marie? Also, is Mary ready for the radical design plans of interior designer Karl Fradgley?

Seán Collins Inn, Adare, Co Limerick
The Collins family are potentially facing their last summer in business - they are at the end of their tether. It is essential that they find a way of making more money. The Brennans want them to immediately improve their bar business and to reinvigorate their fast food restaurant, the Pink Potato. But with business so slow, Seán and wife Bridie struggle to find anything to invest.

Kilmahon House, Shanagarry. Co Cork
Mary and Jeremy Martin have taken five painstaking years to transform their run-down period property into a luxury country house. Everything is more than ready to go – they have the product in fantastic shape. But why aren’t they open for business? The Brennans have to persuade them to take a leap of faith and turn their dream house into a viable business.

Brosna Lodge Hotel, Banagher on Shannon, Co Offaly
Pat and Della Horan have renovated the ground floor of the Brosna Lodge Hotel but their 14 bedrooms have been badly neglected over the years. They want to get the business into shape with a view to their daughters taking over in the future. But with the business on the slide can the Brennans reinvigorate not just the hotel, but the whole family?

The series starts on RTÉ One on Sunday 8th January 2012 at 8.30pm.
8 x 30 minutes

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

December 2011