Hotelier set to build luxury resort for upmarket campers

Hotelier and television personality John Brennan will apply for planning permission for a luxury camping resort in Kerry later this month.The hotelier, who runs the Park, an exclusive hotel in Kenmare, said the proposed new venture would cater for users of recreational vehicles (RVs) and those interested in ‘glamping’ - or upmarket camping.The new venture is expected to deliver between 25 and 30 jobs by April 2012.Brennan and his wife, Gwen, bought Dromquinna Manor and the surrounding 38 acres in Kenmare in a deal that was completed in April. They are understood to have paid under €2 million for the property and Brennan said they expected to spend another €1million on revamping it and developing new facilities.Work has begun on the site and Brennan said about €1 million would be spent on the first phase of development.‘‘We are doing up the manor to cater for conferences and weddings.We are creating the glamping site; revamping the boathouse wine bar and bistro, and applying for planning permission to open a dedicated RV park," he said Brennan will seek planning permission for 95 units - 35 luxury safari tents and 60 spaces for RVs.He said figures from Fáilte Ireland showed that some 34,000 RVs circulate in Ireland on an annual basis - including those that come in from abroad. He said the tents would be ‘‘adapted and modified to suit our climate.They will be luxurious fit-outs and will be on level decks. Each will command a view and they will all be secluded."Brennan said the site would be low-density and that RVs would get four times the space allocated to them in traditional campsites. Brennan runs the five-star Park Hotel in Kenmare along with his brother Francis.He said the manor house at Dromquinna had a ballroom that can cater for functions of up to 180 people.‘‘We have done 12 ‘ show arounds’ and eight couples booked. That is a phenomenal conversion rate and that is because the manor is such a nice building and the setting is just stunning," Brennan said.He plans to revamp 12 bedrooms in the manor and open them in 2013. He also plans tie-ins with existing business like the Seafari, Star Sailing, horse riding, golf and a range of other facilities in Kenmare and along the Ring of Kerry.‘‘This will be a resort as opposed to a campsite. It will be a luxurious destination that will largely cater for people who want to stay for up to two weeks as opposed to stay for a night or two before moving on," Brennan said.