Whites Hotel in Receivership

chavezychavez

Hey All,

We're to get married in Oct this year with the reception in Whites Hotel Wexford town.

We got a call this evening saying that the hotel has gone into receivership, but not to panic that the management and the staff were staying the same and our wedding was going ahead as normal.

The news at 6 had the press release but they mentioned that the hotel group were confident that they could get a buyer soon.

We rang the hotel back looking for further details on what was going on, and they said that it was just an owner changeover and that everything is going ahead as normal. They had bookings well into 2011.

Do ye think that the hotel is telling us speils to keep us from freaking out or would it be a case that they couldn't say on the press release that they were being bought because the sale hadn't been finalised etc

Has this happened to anyone of you and how did it turn out?

If anyone knows any further information regarding the situation in Whites, can you please let me know. PM if you don't want to post it up here.

kisshandra

Hi

I am the same as you. Getting married in Whites in October. I got the call this evening before it hit the news.

Did you find out who the Receiver are? We could give them a call to make sure Whits have a buyer.

I'll keep you in contact if I hear anything.

K

Crispy Duck

Hi, I know a chef who works there, he told my friend that they were told in a meeting today the banks have taken over and their jobs were safe for the time being, they hope to find a buyer, the General Manager told them they were 60 Million in the red. I don't know , look at the likes of Waterford Crystal, they were lucky to find a buyer for at least part of the company at the last minute.

60 million, White's, although it is nice, will never get that kind of money and it's supposed to be subsiding, no bank will loan out with that history. My husband's friend has booked provisionally his wedding in the Riverbank Hotel, the manager there said he would honor their deposit(nice hotel, been to a good few weddings there myself) until she gets it in writing that the hotel will still be opperating, but they are unlikely give that so looks like she'll be pulling it! I feel for you, I'd try get the same date provisionally and see if they hold it until you get it in writing, otherwise I'd pull it, it's not worth the stress.:(

chavezychavez

kisshandra wrote: »

Hi

I am the same as you. Getting married in Whites in October. I got the call this evening before it hit the news.

Did you find out who the Receiver are? We could give them a call to make sure Whits have a buyer.

I'll keep you in contact if I hear anything.

K

Will do, have other hotel feelers out to see what the story is with Whites. Should know know tomorrow or the day after.
I reckon we keep bugging them until we get a letter or some sort of guarantee that they'll honour the wedding.
I know its not too charitable to others in the same boat for later periods, but as long as they can keep open until after October, then I'll be happy

Paolo30

Don't worry you're weddings will be safe in Whites, I know one of the managers there who told me that they called everyone as a precaution due to the media press release. As for the debt of over 60 million that is false, nothing like that at all. I would call the hotel and go in to meet them if you are worried, hope this helps!

chavezychavez

Paolo30 wrote: »

Don't worry you're weddings will be safe in Whites, I know one of the managers there who told me that they called everyone as a precaution due to the media press release. As for the debt of over 60 million that is false, nothing like that at all. I would call the hotel and go in to meet them if you are worried, hope this helps!

Paolo, I certainly hope you're right there. Cheers for the post. If you hear any more, lob it on here. Nice one

Crispy Duck

Sorry Paolo, I see from the link below to appear in todays Irish Times, it wasn't 60 million, I was misinformed, it was only 42 Million, plus what any opperational losses it incurred since 2006 to get it into this mess I assume.

Let's hope your right, what ever way you look at it, this is bad for Wexford, customers & locals alike!:( We all hope a buyer is found and soon!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2009/0716/1224250762004.html

chavezychavez

Really hoping that someone comes in and gets the operation continuing as soon as possible so we can put our minds at rest.

The opera festival is on as well in October, and the hotel is completely booked out for that. If they do need cash, I'd be very surprised if they close down before it, and lose out on all those bookings.

irish147

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1020/1224279464715.html

wexlot

Thread cautiously people. Thrust your instincts and what the facts are telling your. Managers there will be honest with you and tell you what they have been told, HOWEVER, they are in the same boat as everyone else. Only the top honchos know the truth and are highly unlikely to tell the extent of the situation. This is PR for damage limitation.

Demand commitments in writing, if they say you are entitled to a refund get it in writing and make sure it is signed by the GM.

Best of luck!!!!

chavezychavez

wexlot wrote: »

Thread cautiously people. Thrust your instincts and what the facts are telling your. Managers there will be honest with you and tell you what they have been told, HOWEVER, they are in the same boat as everyone else. Only the top honchos know the truth and are highly unlikely to tell the extent of the situation. This is PR for damage limitation.

Demand commitments in writing, if they say you are entitled to a refund get it in writing and make sure it is signed by the GM.

Best of luck!!!!

I hear what you're saying.

Thing is though, if the receiver is in, surely they will have to make alterations to how the business to run i.e. chop off the egos from management or get a seller in, to pay off which ever creditors are looking for their dough.

It seems like a mad idea if they were to close a place that has a huge amount of bookings up till 2011 (which we were told last night by them on the phone). They can't just through out that amount of income.

If they close it, then the creditors go home empty handed.

Someone feel free to correct me if I'm talking horse here.

Paolo30

Can't really agree with Wexlot, sounds like sour grapes to me! Business as usual today in Whites, went in for a look around and the place was buzzing. You wouldn't know it was in receivership. Met my friend who works there and they told me that all future bookings were being contacted and nearly all were understanding. Letters were also being sent out to each wedding couple expalining what was happening. There is a wedding going ahead tomorrow so all must be well!

wexlot

I understand what you are saying, but there is no sour grapes on my behalf. I hope that Whites does not close because I think the place has huge potential................

............

The day of the cute h**r management in this country is gone, that attitude is what got this country into the mess we are in. It can no longer survive, finance is tight and people and other companies are not willing to accept this type of business any longer.


I do not wish to get into a tit for tat here but I wonder has your friend worked personally with the directors and know their ways. Does you friend work at that level of managment "director level"! If not then your friend is simply quoting the statement that they have been given. The same statments made to the press. I do presume the Hotel will operate as normal for the interim. KPMG are overseeing operations and receivership protects the company from being sued or taken to court for non payment of debt. This can only last so long, suppliers will become cautions and reluctant to provide orders without prior payment and in situations like this it can become epidemic for the company. Of course the hotel will be buzzing for the next while. All the locals will be in for coffee to see what is going on there!

I hope the Hotel is taken over by new owners soon. Whites was only open 6 months when the Shelbourne group made an offer to the Directors to lease the hotel from them for 5 years with a view to extending the lease after that period. But alas greed put that to sleep as well. Bear in mind that was a very different economic environment. Hopefully there will still be the same level of interest in it.

iguana

People be careful about what you are writing here. Unsubstantiated negative comments can be defamatory.

chavezychavez

Yoyo all,

Hope on the horizon

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2009/0717/1224250848848.html

LauraLilly

Hi There & Congratulations ( assuming you got married last Oct)
I have just joined, and am interested in your thread, as I am getting married this year and have provisionaly booked Whites too, as they offering a great deal. However I think I might have rushed in to this as I have never attended a wedding there and no one I know has either. Did you continue with your plans to have your wedding their? Any advice helpful.

D3PO

LauraLilly wrote: »

Hi There & Congratulations ( assuming you got married last Oct)
I have just joined, and am interested in your thread, as I am getting married this year and have provisionaly booked Whites too, as they offering a great deal. However I think I might have rushed in to this as I have never attended a wedding there and no one I know has either. Did you continue with your plans to have your wedding their? Any advice helpful.

I dont know anythning about Whites but if they are still in recievorship then I wouldnt worry.

People panic becasue they dont know the difference between, recievership, examinership etc.

If the company is in recievership still, any monies paid for services to the company after it goes into recievership is protected. You are in essence a protected creditor.

KPMG cannot take on your booking without in law gauranteeing your service or money.

so dont worry.