RTE is set to splurge €350,000 over two years on a string of luxury hotels to accommodate celebrities and contributors, it emerged on Friday.
The Merrion, Conrad and Dylan have beaten competition from other five-star locations around Dublin to facilitate the stars.
And the four-star Ballsbridge Hotel, Clayton Hotel, Camden Court Hotel, Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel at Stillorgan and the Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan, have also been chosen.
The tender stated cash-strapped RTE had around 1,150 bookings in 2018, but pointed out this figure can fluctuate annually and is not an indication of booking numbers.
However, celebrities will have to pay for their own alcoholic drinks with the contract stating no alcoholic drinks or bar items and no additional charges or services are to be charged to the State broadcaster.
A spokesman for RTE stated the estimated €350,000 spend “is an accurate estimate for a two-year period. However, it is an estimate”.
They added the final figure “is dependent on RTE’s broadcasting schedule and RTE’s events programme for the year which have not been finalised”.
He said: “In the case of RTE radio and television programmes, guests are often secured at short notice.
“RTE has successfully negotiated competitive rates with all hotels selected following a public tender, despite inflation in the market.”
The spokesman added RTE is satisfied it has achieved value for money in the contract.
On the need to have a panel of five-star hotels in place to accommodate guests appearing on the network, the spokesman said: “Guest requirements vary with the result that five-star hotel accommodation may be required from time to time.”
