The first four-star hotel in the Midlands was officially opened by the Taoiseach in Tullamore, Co Offaly, yesterday. Mr Ahern said that the 72-bedroom Tullamore Court Hotel, which has been built at a cost of £8 million, enhanced the potential of the area to develop "a vibrant tourism industry".
The hotel has been developed by the Flanagan Group, the building contractors and plant hire company, in its first venture into the hotel business.
Mr John Flanagan, the chairman of the group, said the investment in a four-star facility brought a new level of entertainment and service to the Midlands, which would be important for its business and tourism profile.
The hotel complex, located on the town's Portlaoise road, includes a 6,000 sq ft conference centre, which seats 800 people, and a 20-metre swimming pool and leisure centre which will be open to the public from next Monday.
Mr Ahern cited the hotel's contribution to the tourism growth in the Midlands and said that local attractions such as Clonmacnoise, Birr Castle, Locke's Distillery in Kilbeggan, the River Shannon and Slieve Bloom provided "a tremendous variety of activity".
He added: "I know that local representatives and local enterprise and business groups are determined to ensure that the Midlands lay claim to their share of that developing market."
He said that the Genealogical Research Centre for Laois and Offaly, which is situated in Tullamore, would act as a magnet for families who came from the area.
The Tullamore Court Hotel, he added, would be central to the success of efforts to build up the tourism industry "creating more employment and more prosperity for the entire area".
Mr Flanagan said that local limestone materials had been used in building the hotel which was designed by architects, BurkeKennedy Doyle. He said that there had been a good response from the community to the hotel and its 120-seat restaurant over the Christmas period following the opening of the premises in November.
Mr Flanagan started his business in the 1940s. His son, John, who is also a director of the company, said: "We are onto a winner. The market is there. We have a good product and we are looking forward to the future."
