Hotel Westport has been awarded, by public vote, this year’s Best Family Friendly Hotel in the Hotel and Catering Review Gold Medal Awards. The awards recognise and reward excellence in hotels, guest-houses, restaurants, spas, clubs, and catering operations across the island of Ireland. The awards were presented at a gala ceremony in the Double Tree Hilton Hotel, (formerly the Burlington Hotel ), last week. The finalists were judged by a panel of industry experts, who carried out rigorous site inspections at each premises to determine the winners.
The awards, managed by Ashville Media Group, has grown considerably with a 31 per cent increase in entries since last year. This year’s awards were made up of 25 categories and many high profile premises across Ireland made the shortlist. In a two step process, namely where properties were visited by judges from a pre-selected panel who assessed premises under a number of criteria. Successful properties were then shortlisted as a finalist in their category, as was The Hotel Westport. The second phase, as in The Hotel Westport category, included a public vote to select the winner.
Reacting to their win, Declan Heneghan, general manager at Hotel Westport, said: “Personally and collectively we have received numerous congratulatory messages from friends, associates in the industry, customers and locals also. Comments to our social media accounts are at an all time high. Many Westport people see this award as a win for the town not just for Hotel Westport - this is indicative of the community spirit that weaves through the people in our industry in the town. On the ground here at Hotel Westport, all our employees see it a fantastic recognition of their work and a source of pride and achievement. They are buoyed by the fact that we have been benchmarked against the cream of the crop of our industry. The fact that finalists were voted for by the public gives a greater authenticity to the achievement for the staff.”
Cathal Hughes, chairman of the board of directors at The Hotel Westport, said: “I am extremely pleased about this latest achievement and indeed the numerous great achievements at The Hotel Westport recently, which include the Hotel Bar of the Year Award, an AA Rosette for Culinary Excellence, All-Ireland Cocktail Making Champion and so many more – there’s so many. It shows the fantastic team and the fantastic job they’re all doing. A great achievement. I’m delighted!”
The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with Special Responsibility for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, said: "As minister I get to present tourism awards all over the country, It gives me particular pleasure however when I get to do it in my home town and county. Congratulations to the team at The Hotel Westport, they have been consistent award winners in everything that they do. It is a fantastic award to receive, great for the town and county also."
