Feargal Mooney and Ray Nolan (WRI) in the NY Times

New York Times article on Irish entrepreneurship features Feargal Mooney and Ray Nolan of WRI / Hostelworld.

Excerpt:

DUBLIN — Ireland is now alive with enthusiasm for entrepreneurs, who seemingly rank just below rock stars in popularity.

[...]

And in 1999, [Ray Nolan] founded Web Reservations International to provide booking and property management for hostels that cater to backpackers and economy travelers.

[...]

As the business grew — its 100 employees and banks of computers now handle reservations for some 50,000 hostels in 166 countries — Web Reservations was offered an equity investment by Enterprise Ireland. “But we said this is our baby, we didn’t want to give up equity,” Mr. Mooney said.

But the company, which is expanding in the United States and in China, has taken advantage of the agency’s help to open operations in Shanghai and New York. “They’ve helped us with introductions to government officials in China, and we’re in the office space on Park Avenue, expanding our systems in the States,” Mr. Mooney said.

Read the full article on the NY Times.