PREM Group wins national HR award
PREM Group, one of Europe's leading hotel operators, has been recognised for its new online learning programme developed to help staff members recognise the signs of potential child sex trafficking. The programme, which won the Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the recent Irish HR Champions awards, was developed with MECPATHS, an Irish organisation that raises awareness within the hospitality sector of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. [...]
Inchydoney Lodge & Spa to hold recruitment open day
Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa, just outside the town of Clonakilty, has announced it will hold a walk-in recruitment day this Friday March 30th. Running from 12 noon to 3pm, interested individuals are invited to bring their Cvs, meet the hotel's staff and take part in interviews on the day. The hotel currently employs more than 150 people and business growth over the past few years [...]
AVEA holds inaugural conference
Eight months after its establishment, the Association of Visitor Experiences & Attractions (AVEA) is holding its inaugural conference in Croke Park today. The aim of the conference is to bring together businesses within the sector to share knowledge and insights in a bid to boost future growth. The theme of the conference is 'Planning for Future Success' and features a number of speakers including Charles Coyle, [...]
2016 Winners
Ireland's City Hotel Sponsored By Kantar Media The Westbury, Dublin Ireland's Industrial Caterer Sponsored By Excel Recruitment Pavilion at UL, Limerick Ireland's Casual Dining Experience Sponsored By Keelings Farm Fresh Anocht, Kilkenny Ireland's Three Star Hotel Killeen House Hotel, Kerry Ireland's Wine Experience Sponsored By Febvre & Company Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork Ireland's Newcomer Restaurant Pickle Restaurant, Dublin Event Caterer Of The Year Sponsored By Keelings Farm [...]
2017 Sponsors
Proud Sponsors of Ireland's Best Hotel Website Category Digisoft specialise in immersive guest experiences for the hospitality and tourism industry. By using state-of-the-art virtual reality tours as well as mobile and beacon technology we have made it our business to transform how your guests perceive and interact with your business. Proud Sponsors of Ireland's Hotel Breakfast Category Bespoke Food Service solutions from Ireland’s Favourite Porridge brand Ireland’s favourite [...]
2016 Gallery & Video
To view photos of the 2016 Keelings Farm Fresh Gold Medal Awards, click through the gallery below. To view thumbnails, Click Here
Industry welcomes permit changes
The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) and the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) are among those welcoming changes to Employment Permit Regulations that will help to ease the current staffing crisis. The changes, which Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys has signed off on, will make it easier for Irish hospitality businesses to source chefs from outside the European Union. Certain chef grades have been [...]
Prestigious chef to open IFEX 2018
IFEX 2018 – this year's largest food, hospitality and retail exhibition – will be opened by Michelin star award-winning chef Jean-Christophe Novelli. The trade-only event, which will run in Belfast's Titanic Exhibition Centre from March 20th–22nd, has been described as a melting pot for those working within the food, drink, retail and hospitality sectors. One of the main attractions is Salon Culinaire, Northern Ireland's prestigious chef [...]
Hoteliers look to technology to grow visitor numbers
Hoteliers in Ireland are looking to technology to help boost visitor numbers, particularly from overseas. According to a survey conducted by the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) of hotel and guesthouse owners and general manager, released as part of their annual conference held in the Slieve Russell Hotel, Cavan today, capital investment projects in 2018 will include technology aimed at improving guest experiences and business operations. One of [...]
Hoteliers call for action on insurance costs
Ireland's hoteliers are calling for action on rising insurance costs, which are set to reach €60 million this year. According to an industry survey published by the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) in advance of its 80th annual conference, more than 80 per cent of hoteliers believe this increase will have a 'significant negative impact' on their business. Joe Dolan, outgoing President of the IHF, describes the [...]
Taste Of Dublin Returns
Dublin's Iveagh Gardens will play host to four days of food, drink and entertainment this summer as Taste of Dublin returns to the city centre from June 14th to 17th. Featuring some of Ireland's best food and top chefs from around the country, this year's theme is 'Food Lovers Playground' with a wide variety of restaurants, producers, bars and exhibitors displaying their creations and talents. Live [...]
New Mercedes-Benz Sprinter to launch in June
Good news for fans of transporting goods in style – the third-generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter goes on sale here in June. It's got big boots to fill as the last two were named Ireland's Van of the Year when they were introduced. At the very least there's plenty of choice. Six body variants, three body heights, five weight classes, five wheelbases, three diesel engines, the option of front, [...]
Adare Manor wins six awards at National Cocktail Championships
The National Cocktail Championships and Bartender Awards were held on February 9th last in Limerick. Hosted by the Bartenders Association of Ireland, the awards recognise the expertise of Ireland's mixologists. Among the winners on the night was Adare Manor, which picked up an unprecedented six awards. Resident mixologist Aerial Sanecki received three awards including the overall National Cocktail Champion gong. Finbarr Collins was recognised for Best [...]
The Shelbourne joins exclusive travel network
Good news for The Shelbourne Hotel Dublin – the luxury hotel overlooking St. Stephen's Green has recently been granted membership to Virtuoso, an exclusive global luxury travel network. The Shelbourne is just the fourth hotel in Dublin and one of 16 in Ireland to feature in the prestigious network that specialises in luxury and experiential travel. Virtuoso's portfolio consists of around 1,700 'preferred partners' – tour [...]
Ashford Estate beats fundraising target
The team at Ashford Estate has announced that it has almost doubled its fundraising target for the children's cancer charity Hand in Hand. In 2017 the team set itself an ambitious target of raising €7,000 for the worthy cause, and over 12 months of fundraising they collected an impressive total of €11,998.44. A variety of events and challenges were taken on by the team to raise [...]
Powerscourt Hotel unveils significant investment
Powerscourt Hotel marked its 10 year anniversary by unveiling the results of an extensive refurbishment programme at a lavish party on February 1st, including the addition of an outdoor amphitheatre. The perfect spot for an outdoor wedding (weather-permitting), the €250,000 amphitheatre was one of the event's focal points and featuring some truly impressive views of the Sugar Loaf Mountain and Powerscourt Estate's stunning grounds. It's future-proofed [...]
B&B of the Year Award Goes to Kilkenny
Springview Farmhouse in Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, is Ireland’s B&B of the Year. The announcement was made at the recent AGM of B&B Ireland in the Ashling Hotel in Dublin. Springview Farmhouse B&B is owned and run by the Joyce family. The finalists were: Catherine O’Sullivan, An Rosalithir, Rosscarbery, Co Cork; Mairéad Uí Shuibhne, Bun A Bhaile, Ballyvourney, Cork; Anne and Paul Harris, Dromagowlane House, Adrigole, Co [...]
Diamonds Are Forever at The Westbury
The Westbury and Boodles came together ahead of Valentine’s Day to create an exclusive overnight experience. The Boodles Luxury Diamond Experience at The Westbury is available from January 16th to March 31st, subject to availability, from s310, and includes overnight accommodation in a bedroom or suite, champagne in Boodles boutique with a diamond expert, two Boodles Pink Diamond Cocktails in The Sidecar, and a full Irish breakfast [...]
Game of Thrones is Top Outdoor Campaign
Game of Thrones is Top Outdoor Campaign Tourism Ireland’s 2016 Game of Thrones campaign has been selected by advertising and marketing magazine Campaign as the UK’s number one outdoor campaign of 2016. Tourism Ireland’s ‘Doors of Thrones’ campaign to attract visitors to Northern Ireland has reached an estimated 61 million people around the world, with the campaign’s short films being viewed 17 million times – [...]
Media Trips Deliver Audience of One Billion
Media Trips Deliver Audience of One Billion Last year was a bumper year for international media coming to Ireland. Over 1,000 representatives from print, broadcast and online channels across the world descended on our shores during the year, providing Irish tourism with an overall reach to over one billion readers and viewers worldwide. The advertising value of this reach is estimated at over 287m. Fáilte [...]
Ireland Scoops ‘Best Destination’ Award
Ireland Scoops ‘Best Destination’ Award Ireland scooped a major travel award in New York – for the third year in a row. In December Ireland was named ‘best destination: Europe’ at the annual Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards, beating off tough competition from England, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. Travel Weekly is the leading weekly newspaper for American travel agents and travel professionals and 15,000 [...]
Gas Networks Sponsors ‘The Restaurant
Gas Networks Sponsors ‘The Restaurant Gas Networks Ireland is sponsoring TV3’s The Restaurant, which returns to screens this year for its 11th series. The new series of The Restaurant goes into production this month and will air on TV3 in early 2017. The show returns this year to Marco Pierre White’s Courtyard Bar & Grill in Donnybrook, with the world-class chef joining the critics’ table [...]
Bord Bia Talent Search Gets Underway
Bord Bia Talent Search Gets Underway Bord Bia and the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School started their search on January 4th for 30 professionals who can become future leaders in Ireland’s food industry. The Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship and Origin Green Ambassador programmes are run in conjunction with UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. Successful applicants on both programmes will have their tuition fees [...]
Musgrave Sponsors Chef Network
Musgrave Sponsors Chef Network Musgrave MarketPlace has launched ‘The Chef Blog’ as part of a sponsorship agreement with Chef Network. The new blog allows chef members to submit guest blogposts on a range of topics, including food and industry trends, Irish food heritage, seasonality, specific chef skillsets and nurturing talent, to help expand chefs’ knowledge base and encourage greater collaboration.
Ireland Launches French Campaign
Ireland Launches French Campaign Tourism Ireland in France launched its marketing plans for 2017 at an event in Paris attended by 50 leading French tour operators, travel agents and travel journalists. Major promotional themes will include the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route, living historical stories and Ireland’s Ancient East, as well as city breaks to Dublin and Belfast. Monica MacLaverty, Tourism Ireland’s [...]