At Your Service

The series starts on RTÉ One, Sunday 8th January 2012 at 8.30pm

Expert hoteliers Francis and John Brennan are back on our screens in the New Year for a brand new series of RTÉ's One's popular hospitality makeover show 'At Your Service'.

8 more hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs enlist the expertise of the Brennan brothers in an attempt to bring new life to their businesses. They are all struggling to survive the economic downturn and successive poor summers. It's a tough time for the hospitality industry; it's more important than ever that the Brennan brothers come up with solutions.

"Even in today's economic climate the opportunity to generate business exists"
- John Brennan

Francis and John Brennan are brothers and proprietors of the famous 5-star Park Hotel Kenmare, Co. Kerry. They bring with them many years of top-level experience but with the recession raging the challenges get tougher every year.
This year they inspire a whole town to hold a tourism festival, contend with the aftermath of a devastating fire at an equestrian centre and help new generations take over.

The Brennan's assess each business from top to bottom and identify areas that desperately need improvement. In the current climate every possible avenue needs to be exploited and the Brennans look at websites, signage, receptions, lounges, bedrooms, kitchens, service arrangements, menus, target markets and even family politics. Each business has its unique set of problems but they all have one thing in common - if they want to stay in business they need to fight harder than ever before.

The Brennans stay overnight and while Francis conducts the main property inspection and devises an overall strategy John concentrates on financial and marketing plans, looking for more cost-effective ways of running the operation, investigating new revenue streams and money-making opportunities. These are not always quick fixes but long-term solutions that can be sustained after the Brennans have gone.

We visit businesses that are not reaching their full potential and others where the owners have lost their way, their energy and their money. And it's not always an easy ride - for some the Brennan's advice is hard to take on board.

This year's series covers a wide range of properties; from an equestrian centre that has been gutted by fire, to a guesthouse with ambitions not only to update itself but also to regenerate the whole town. Throughout the series we see fundamental changes to the properties - change of use, radical changes of image and completely different business models.

Series Producer: Richard Weller
Executive Producers: Maggi Gibson and Jannine Waddell
Executive Producer for RTÉ: Stephanie Fitzpatrick

Series 4 - Episodes

Programme 1 - The Phoenix B&B, Dingle Peninsula, Co Kerry

Brand new series. Expert hoteliers Francis and John Brennan are back and the first programme of the series features free spirit Lorna Tyther who runs The Phoenix, a B&B with 4 rooms, as well as traditional caravans, a dreamy chalet and vegetarian restaurant. The Phoenix is situated on the Dingle Peninsula and the Brennans want Lorna to make the business more attractive to the thousands of tourists that drive past her door each summer. But Lorna is worried that she might end up destroying the alternative ethos of the business. Can the Brennans convince her to break out of her niche and embrace the mainstream market? Or will Lorna remain resistant to any major change?

Programme 2 - Harbour House B&B, Courtown. Co Wexford

Tonight the Brennan brothers think big in Courtown, where Francis used to holiday as a child. Donal and Margaret O'Gorman have run Harbour House B&B for many years and want to future-proof the business. But the B&B needs a radical makeover and the location is challenging. Courtown town centre is blighted by boarded up hotels and it's a long way from the bustling resort Francis remembers. Unperturbed, the Brennans and the O'Gorman's hatch ambitious plans to get the whole town to work together and hold a summer tourism festival. It's the Brennan's most ambitious plan yet, but will it work?

Programme 3 - The Strand Inn, Dunmore East. Co Waterford

Brother and sister Clifden and Louise Foyle are taking control of their late father's business, a 16-room inn in a stunning coastal location. Their bars and restaurants are doing reasonable business but they are totally underselling their potentially more profitable rooms. Clifden and Louise have big ideas, but can the Brennans ensure the siblings start making money - rather than just spending it?

Programme 4 - Crossogue Equestrian Centre, Thurles, Co. Tipperary

This week hotel experts John and Francis Brennan battle fire damage and tight deadlines at Crossogue House and Equestrian Centre. Crossogue House is a Georgian property that runs teenage summer camps, as well as riding holidays for adults.

A recent fire has completely gutted the house and owner Mark Molloy is struggling to open in time for his essential summer bookings. The Brennans want him to use the fire as an opportunity to build a stronger business but with so much work to be done, and a stud farm to run, it's a race to finish on time.

Programme 5 - The Olde Glenbeigh Hotel, Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry

Top hoteliers John and Francis Brennan continue their mission to help hotels, B&B's and guesthouses around Ireland. This week they have been called to The Olde Glenbeigh Hotel on the Ring of Kerry.

Mary Keary has run the hotel for 24 years and she's now looking to take a step back from the day-to-day running of the business. Mary's young son Killian and her daughter-in-law Marie are also keen to take more responsibility but none of them are sure what to do to improve the business.

Although it has a prime location, years of inaction have taken their toll. Can the Brennans negotiate the family politics and make this old coaching inn fit for a new era?

Programme 6 - Seán Collins Inn, Adare. Co Limerick

Tonight, expert hoteliers John and Francis Brennan visit Adare. This year is make or break for Seán and Bridie Collins and their 3 businesses; the Seán Collins & Sons Bar, the Pink Potato Restaurant and The Adare Village Inn. If they can't improve turnover, then one of the businesses will have to go. The Brennans have a plan but the Collins struggle to find the funds to invest. Everything is riding on this summer, but as improvements get scaled back will the Collins be able to do enough to survive?

Programme 7 - Kilmahon House, Shanagarry, Co Cork

This week top hoteliers Francis and John Brennan are helping Mary and Jeremy Martin launch their luxury country house retreat. It's taken the Martins five years to renovate Kilmahon House and the Brennan's have been called in to get the business up and running and ready for the summer season. The Brennan's believe the product is top-notch but convincing the Martins to get the business open, to begin marketing and to prepare for the summer season is another matter.

Series 4, Programme 8 - Brosna Lodge Hotel, Banagher On Shannon, Co. Offaly

In the last of the series Francis and John Brennan meet Pat and Della Horan and their daughter Aoife. They own the Brosna Lodge Hotel, a 14 bedroom hotel with a bar and restaurant.

It may be the only hotel left in town but the rooms at Brosna Lodge have become very rundown and after 11 years its owners Pat and Della have become stuck in a rut.

The Brennan's arrive with big ideas for Aoife and the future of the business - but will Pat and Della have the money and energy to see the project through?