The Covid-19 pandemic led to Irish hotels losing a combined total of €5.3 billion in revenue.
That's according to the Irish Hotels Federation, which says there was a 55% drop in revenues for 2021 compared to pre-Covid levels.
The group says business has been exceptionally poor so far this year, with occupancy levels averaging 22% to the end of August.
It says an extremely challenging nine months still lie ahead, with booking levels falling sharply in the absence of overseas visitors.
Hoteliers say they have also been having issues with recruitment.
Speaking to RedFM News, General Manager at the Kingsley Hotel and Cork Chair of the Irish Hotels Federation Fergal Harte says hotels did their best to keep as many staff as possible.
"They came up with lots of different innovations and ways of doing that, and they kept small teams of people on site.
"I think all of that has stood the hotels in good stead, but by the same token there are real challenges there as people have moved on to different sectors where there's maybe a little bit more job security."
