Ashford Castle was announced as Ireland’s Supreme Hotel at the independently judged Hotel & Catering Gold Medal Awards this week.
The Hotel & Catering Gold Medal Awards celebrate the best in Irish hospitality, from wine experiences and fine dining hotel restaurants to the best afternoon tea and the top award: Ireland’s Supreme Hotel.
For more than 30 years, the annual Gold Medal Awards have recognised the outstanding achievements of the hotel and catering sector over the past 12 months.
Ashford Castle’s Supreme Award win followed a slew of other awards presented to general manager, Niall Rochford and his team, including Ireland’s best guest experience and Ireland’s top five-star resort.
The multiple award-winning Ashford Castle, which is located on a magnificent 350-acre estate in Cong, Co Mayo, was the big winner on the night, receiving seven awards: including the supreme award, goal medals for guest experience and five star resorts, silver medals for fine dining hotel restaurants, leading green hotels, wine experience and afternoon tea.
"To win one award would have been an honour, but to receive seven, including the ultimate Supreme Award, is a magnificent testament to the team who have worked tirelessly to deliver the very best product and service to all our guests, consistently," said Niall Rochford, general manager of Ashford Castle.
Each shortlisted hotel is blind site inspected by the Gold Medal Awards judging panel, which is made up of industry experts from a range of hospitality sectors. They compile scores and meet to decide on finalists, and then winners in each category. Tweeting about the luxury hotel’s win, the judges said: "Compliments to all of the staff at Ashford Castle for their wonderful work through such a difficult time for the hospitality industry. What a great achievement!"
