Hotel details

Personal attention is guaranteed if you wish to hold a conference for 5 to 250 people. The hotel caters to your group's specific requirements and offers tailor made packages for each booking. The hotel was built by Bartholomew Rivers, a wealthy banker, merchant and ship owner, as part of his plan to develop the little seaside village as a thriving tourist resort. By 1801, the Hotel was leased to a John Walsh, and for a time it was known as Walsh's Hotel, but an advertisement in the Waterford Mirror in 1807 referred to it as the Great Hotel, and the name stuck. Sometime in the 1830s, the hotel was purchased by the Phelan family, who had been running a smaller hotel known as the Little Hotel. It was undoubtedly a big jump for them to move to the Great Hotel, but they were quite successful in turning around the fortunes of the premises, which had been declining since the death of Mrs. Walsh some years previously. Under John Phelan's guidance the hotel was returned to prosperity. He also acted as secretary to the Tramore Races, a position which seemed to go hand in hand with the hotel. The hotel then changed hands a number of times before it passed to Margaret Kavanagh. In 1894, the writer P.M. Egan produced his well known History of Waterford, and wrote of the hotel as follows: "Miss Kavanagh's Great Hotel has the highest repute for possessing all the qualifications befitting a first class establishment." The hotel was leased to Martin J. Murphy in 1897. He continued the tradition as secretary of the Tramore Racecourse and invested heavily in the old racecourse at the back strand. It was Murphy who changed the name of the hotel to The Grand Hotel and, in keeping with the name, he enlarged the hotel considerably with a building programme that commenced in 1907, the results of which can be seen to the right in the photographs above. The Treacy family have refurbished the hotel extensively, so that it combines a very high standard of luxury with the elegance of a bygone age, and the tradition of efficient service in a warm and hospitable atmosphere has been maintained.

Food & Beverages

The Doneraile Restaurant, with its panoramic view of the sea, has become famous in Waterford for its food, extensive menus, and friendly professional staff. Dining here is an experience not to be missed.

Public areas are non-smoking.

Internet

Wireless Internet Hotspot is available in public areas and costs EUR 3.00 per hour.  Wireless internet is available in public areas and is free of charge. 

Parking

Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not possible). 

Pets

Pets are not allowed. 

Location & area

Hotel policies

Cancellation Policy

If cancelled up to 2 days before date of arrival, no fee will be charged.  If cancelled later or in case of no-show, the first night will be charged. 

Deposit Policy

No deposit will be charged. 

VAT and city/tourist taxes

21.5 % VAT is included.  Service charge is not applicable.  City/tourist tax is not applicable. 

Meal Plan

Breakfast is included in the room rate. 

Children and Extra Bed Policy

All children are welcome.  All children under 5 years stay free of charge when using existing bedding.  All children under 2 years stay free of charge for cots.  There is no capacity for extra beds in the room.  Maximum capacity of babycots in a room is 1. 

Please note that in case specific policies apply to a particular room or rate, the specific room/rate policy prevails over the general hotel policy