IPA Accommodation new online booking system update

Dear Member,

IPA Section Ireland members are waiting in anticipation for our new online booking system, I completely understand the frustration at not having this service available.

Last November we had to disable access to the membership to coincide with the introduction of the new website, and within it the online shop. The existing Accommodation booking system is working across a combination of software packages in the background to record bookings per property, allow access to House Managers to a reservation portal, and maintain financial records which are shared with our accountant. It was put to the Website developers that an integrated booking system would revolutionise the overall management of IPA Section Ireland accommodation. As this process unfolded various mechanisms including integrating the website into a new Quickbooks Accounting package have been undertaken. Admittedly this has presented many challenges, but the outcome will be worth the wait both for the member experience and overall management of the portfolio.

The new accommodation system will add the very favoured Killarney property to online access for members, and IPA House operations in Dublin will be very much streamlined utilising the new software.  Initially IPA House Dublin will not be available to members to book online, bookings will continue to be made through the office, and by email correspondence, it will also be automated, booking confirmations and payment will be electronic via email. This will be reviewed in time. With this in mind it is essential that as many members as possible sign up on our new website for online access.

The accommodation platform is now established with all properties setup. Linking with our financial programs is underway and we now commence a period of intensive testing to insure you the members will enjoy a seamless booking experience.  Due to the number of forward bookings for 2023 we are phasing out the old system by year end. This means for bookings for IPA House only in Dublin please continue to contact the office at 01-8302907 or by email ipairish@gmail.com for booking enquiries for accommodation up to December 2023.

For country apartments Cork, Sligo, Wexford, Galway and Killarney please contact me at accommodation@ipaireland.org for bookings up to December 2023 only. As of today 16^th June,  the summer months being the remainder of June, July and August are fully booked. The Killarney Apartment has no weekends available until year end. There is midweek availability only. Please bear in mind Killarney is a minimum two-night stay booking. I will continue to make information available using the automatic reply facility on my email account.

Finally…, the online system will be launched on the 15^th of August 2023 for 2024 bookings only. The new system will allow bookings up to 10 months in advance. Thank you, members, for your patience. The time required is to make sure the system works correctly and to train the office staff and house managers in the new system and get to grips with it myself.