Dalata CEO to leave after a year ‘unlike any I have encountered’

The chief executive of Dalata Hotel Group is stepping down from the role some 14 years after founding the company. Pat McCann will leave the board after a “transition period”, the company said, and will be replaced by deputy chief executive Dermot Crowley. Chairman John Hennessy said McCann had been “instrumental” in the growth of the company, which is largely focused on the Irish market but with a growing UK portfolio. He added that Crowley had a “proven track record” since taking the deputy chief executive role in 2012. News of McCann’s departure came alongside Dalata’s preliminary results for 2020, which showed revenue falling by more than two-thirds year-on-year to €136.8m (£118.3m) and a pretax loss of €111.5m. Occupancy during the year fell from almost 83% to just 31%, with the average room rate down by a fifth. Announcing the results, McCann said the year had been “unlike any other I have encountered during my 50-year career in the hospitality industry” but described Dalata as “unbowed and unbroken”. He added: “The outlook for the near-term remains uncertain at present. The rollout of vaccines both here in Ireland and abroad continues and I remain positive on the medium-term prospects for the group.” To send feedback, e-mail tim.burke@egi.co.uk or tweet @_tim_burke or @estatesgazette