Hotel prices in Dublin during big events are “not out of line with other large, international cities”, the Irish Hotels Federation has claimed. 

Last weekend, the cost of hotels surged as people flocked to the capital to see Robbie Williams perform and two American college football teams play. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Irish Hotels Federation National President Michael Magner, National President said the cost of staying in Dublin is an issue that comes up “time and time again”. 

“In December of 2023, a report was published to say that during large scale events, Dublin is not out of line with other large, international cities,” he explained. 

“What we saw last weekend was a situation whereby two large scale events - the Robbie Williams concert and the American College game, where over 220,000 American visitors came to the capital - [meant] demand outstripped supply. 

“What that report in 2023 identified, over the course of 12 months you’d have a number of compression nights. 

“In one year, you might have 10 compression nights where demand far exceeds supply.” 

WOW Dublin - that was the BEST EVER….. I love you Ireland ❤️ Rob x pic.twitter.com/rU4LlUlLsm

— Robbie Williams (@robbiewilliams) August 24, 2025

Mr Magner conceded that the price of the very few rooms left available over the weekend were "undoubtedly high” and there are lessons that local authorities should learn. 

“Why on earth would you have two large scale events with large demand running at the same weekend?” he said. 

Mr Magner added that there are still reasonably priced hotel rooms available close to Dublin on the weekend of September NFL game. 

“If you go 21 kms outside the city, as long as there’s appropriate transport infrastructure and extra buses and rail lines put on, you can get a hotel room at a very good four star hotel for just over €300,” he said. 

A bedroom in a suite in a hotel. Picture by: Alamy.com.

In a recent report on the sector, the Global Commercial Real Estate Services Ireland noted that the “growing city events calendar will continue to mean multiple ‘compression nights’ per year.”

It also concluded that the sector “faces barriers to entry including planning restraints and construction cost increases, meaning over the long-term, demand is likely to continue to outweigh new supply.”

Main image: A Dublin hotel room. Picture by: Alamy.com.