PREM Group is a prominent international hospitality company, managing and operating hotels and serviced apartments across Ireland, the UK and Europe. In Ireland, the group currently operates 10 properties, including 7 hotels and 3 serviced apartment locations, under its ‘Premier Suites’ brand.
Leading the Irish operations is Paul Dempsey, Chief Operating Officer, who is responsible for maintaining operational excellence and delivering on the group’s commercial and guest satisfaction goals.
To help achieve this, PREM Group Ireland works Avendra International and is supported by long-time account manager Brian Williams.
Paul shares, “We’re a people business. Our biggest cost is payroll but procurement is a close second. When you’re dealing with tight margins and rising prices, you need a system and a team you can trust. That’s exactly what we’ve got with Avendra International.”
The Challenge
In recent years, inflationary pressures have put additional strain on profit margins. With a diverse portfolio of hotels operating seven days a week, Paul and his team needed a way to manage rising costs while also freeing up chefs and managers to focus on what matters most; the guest experience.
Paul explains, “I’ve seen it too often where chefs are pulled in a million directions, running kitchens, managing teams, dealing with suppliers, checking invoices. It’s just not sustainable. Procurement alone is a full-time job, so expecting our people to take that on while maintaining high standards isn’t realistic. That’s where Avendra International has really stepped up.”
Maintaining control over supplier pricing, ensuring up-to-date allergen and nutritional data, and meeting ever-growing sustainability expectations were also key priorities.
Adds Paul, “Request for Proposals (RFPs) today often include carbon reporting and sustainability criteria. We knew we needed to tighten up our supply chain visibility to meet those expectations and stay competitive, and Avendra International enables us to achieve this with ease.”
Strategic Procurement Partnership
To address these challenges, PREM Group Ireland partners with Avendra International to transform its procurement approach. This collaboration combines expert, hands-on support with the simplicity and efficiency of Pi - Avendra International’s digital procurement platform.
Together, they deliver a practical, high-impact solution that balances local service with cutting-edge digital tools.
Supplier Consolidation and Cost Savings
One of the most significant areas of improvement has been supplier consolidation. Working together, Avendra International and PREM have reduced the supplier base in key categories such as meat, dry goods, and vegetables.
This has delivered not only pricing benefits but also supported PREM’s sustainability goals by minimising deliveries and reducing transport emissions. Paul recalls a particularly effective protein project, where four butchers were invited to take part in a blind tasting,
He explains, “We ran a full tasting exercise and put the results against our pricing data. That led us to select one supplier group-wide and the results have been fantastic. We’ve not only improved the quality, but benefited from better pricing and less admin.”
Cost savings have also come from product swaps in other areas, such as transitioning from single-use toiletry cartridges to pump systems across the hotel bedrooms.
“It was a simple switch,” Paul confirmed. “But we’ve saved around 18 to 20 percent on those products. It just shows the value of having someone like Brian in your corner, spotting those opportunities.”
Digital Efficiencies Through Pi
Avendra International’s digital procurement platform Pi has become a key tool for PREM’s teams. Designed to simplify and streamline ordering, invoicing, menu management and more, Pi enables hotel teams to manage procurement from a single, integrated system.
In fact, for Paul, it’s been a game-changer: “Pi is one of the best systems I’ve worked with. It’s intuitive, efficient and it saves our chefs a massive amount of time. They can easily build shopping baskets using agreed products and see live pricing.”
Pi also introduced a new level of financial and operational control for PREM. Automated invoice capture flags pricing discrepancies, while the team is now preparing to roll out allergen and nutritional tracking features; something Paul says will be essential moving forward.
“Pi gives us the level of transparency and assurance we need when operating and managing multiple sites,” says Paul. “And the fact that it’s included in our partnership, when a similar system could cost €3,500-€4,000 per property per year, is a serious bonus. So, we’re saving around €36,000 a year on system licence fees alone, in addition to all the wrap-around services and additional savings provided by Avendra International.”
Culinary Innovation and Menu Development
Culinary innovation is another area where the partnership has delivered. Avendra International’s Head of Culinary, Paul Bloxham, has supported PREM with creative menu development and trend-led food concepts, including a Guinness-proofed pizza dough recipe for The Hoban Hotel’s outdoor dining offer.
Paul explains, “Paul Bloxham is brilliant. He speaks the language of chefs. He knows the pressure they’re under and brings ideas that are realistic and exciting. Our GM loved the Guinness dough - it turned into something really different that set us apart.”
Paul Bloxham is now working with other hotels in the group, including Viking Hotel in Waterford, to help refresh menus and introduce new ideas.
Continues Paul, “It’s like having a development chef in your back pocket; that kind of support just isn’t something you usually get from a procurement partner.”
Account Management and Ongoing Support
Regular face-to-face and virtual engagement helps keep the relationship dynamic. Quarterly review meetings, regional supplier showcase events (including a recent session at Croke Park), and virtual sessions help bring chefs and GMs together to share feedback, explore new suppliers and identify further opportunities.
For day-to-day support and when issues arise, the PREM team knows it can rely on Avendra International’s account management.
“Brian’s fantastic,” says Paul. “He used to work with us at the Osprey and really understands what matters to us. Whether it’s a supply issue, a pricing question or a new project — he’s there, he listens, he’s proactive and he gets things moving.”
Wider Business Benefits
For Paul, the benefits of working with Avendra International go far beyond cost savings, even though those have been substantial.
Paul shares, “We’ve seen savings across protein, consumables, linen and drinks. We’ve also improved the quality of what we buy and streamlined the way our teams work.”
Just as importantly, it’s freed up time for staff to focus on delivering exceptional hospitality.
He reflects, “Procurement can be hugely time-consuming and stressful. When you take that diversion or pressure away, you let people do what they’re best at: serving guests, leading teams, running kitchens.”
Avendra also supports PREM’s wider goals around sustainability, compliance and digital transformation.
“The next generation of guests, and corporate clients, are asking the right questions about sustainability,” says Paul. “Being able to show you’ve got robust systems and supply chain standards in place is going to become non-negotiable.”
Conclusion
The partnership between PREM Group Ireland and Avendra International is built on shared goals, practical solutions and a genuine commitment to delivering quality but at the best value. From improving gross margins to inspiring new food experiences, the relationship continues to evolve with technology, insight and people truly at its core.
Paul continues: “As a business, you’ve got to ask – can I do this better myself, or am I better off bringing in someone with scale, systems and expertise? For us, the answer is clear.”
And for other hospitality businesses considering a similar move? “My advice is simple: give the Avendra International team your purchasing data. They will do a free audit and show you where the savings are. If savings can be made, brilliant, and then all of the other services they provide are just the icing on the cake. You’ve got nothing to lose.”
We get it, and we can help.
Contact our Ireland team to discover how Avendra International can help you drive savings and streamline operations: hello_Ireland@avendra.com.
