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GEORGINA CAMPBELL'S IRELAND HOSPITALITY AWARDS 2011

Raising a Toast to Those who Survive – and Thrive!

At the 2011 Georgina Campbell's Ireland Awards

Representatives of the very best of Irish hospitality gathered at Bord Bia in Dublin today (12th October 2010), for the announcement of the 2011 Georgina Campbell's Ireland Awards, associated with the respected Georgina Campbell’s Ireland independent hospitality guides, and Ireland’s most popular independent hospitality and travel website www.ireland-guide.com.

Unlike most other award schemes, the Georgina Campbell Awards are completely independent, and in no way affiliated with trade associations or marketing groups; it is this independence which has earned them special respect in the industry, and public trust.

The event was anticipated especially keenly in yet another challenging year for the hospitality sector, as accolades from a respected independent guide are not only a source of encouragement, but very good for business too.

In line with the growth in popularity of accessing our guides digitally and indeed now while on the move, Georgina Campbell Guides’ focus is continuing to drift from printed guides, initially to the internet with ireland-guide.com and now towards the rapidly growing mobile technology area with a hugely successful app for the iPhone that was developed to ‘test the water’.

This paved the way for a new version of the iPhone app with lots of new areas & functionality and for apps for Samsung, Blackberry and Nokia devices, which will all be live by the end of 2010, thus ensuring that Georgina Campbell’s Ireland remains the clear trail-blazer in relation to hospitality & travel guides in the mobile internet arena.

Yet whether accessed through a traditional paper guide or through a mobile phone app the ethos remains the same, every year Georgina Campbell and her team of experienced assessors comb the country’s hotels, country houses, guesthouses, restaurants, pubs and cafés, seeking out the best consumer experiences for their readers.

Ms Campbell, “We have maintained our rigorous programme of anonymous assessment visits throughout the season as usual, and the reports are gradually go through directly to the website, ireland-guide.com and as a result on to our apps. As always, we’ve kept a sharp eye out for those exceptional establishments which are right on top of their game and going the extra mile for customers.”

Commenting on the Awards, Georgina Campbell said, “Every year a special theme emerges, depending on ‘the year that’s in it’ – this year the theme might have been expected to be survival, against the odds. In fact – surprisingly - it’s more positive than that, as this year’s awards celebrate those who are bucking the trend, getting on with it – and thriving: so, this is a day to raise a toast, to those who not only survive – but thrive!”

Top award winners on the day included: Kelly’s Resort Hotel, Rosslare, Co Wexford (Hotel of the Year); L'Ecrivain, Dublin (Restaurant of the Year); Henry Stone, Sha-Roe Bistro, Clonegal, Co Carlow (Chef of the Year); Hargadons Bros., Sligo (Pub of the Year); and Johnny & Lucy Madden, Hilton Park, Clones, Co Monaghan, (Georgina Campbell Award, for Outstanding Contribution).

Commenting on this year’s winners, Georgina said; “Excellence is always the top priority, of course, but our award winners this year share a quality which goes beyond that.

Given the difficulties posed by the current economic situation, it takes a very special kind of determination and skill to confront the situation head-on, take control and come up with innovative ways to attract customers.

Today’s winners represent those people in the hospitality industry who have got real grit and, by putting customer requirements first - and keeping up their marketing - can continue to provide a combination of excellence and value for money that brings in business, even at this dire time for the industry.”

Sponsors include: Bord Bia, BIM, Fáilte Ireland, and Waterways Ireland.

Full list of awards with citations can be found here

Full list of awards below:

GEORGINA CAMPBELL'S IRELAND HOSPITALITY AWARDS 2011

GEORGINA CAMPBELL AWARD 2011 (for Outstanding Contribution to the hospitality industry)
Johnny & Lucy Madden, Hilton Park, Clones, Co Monaghan

HOTEL OF THE YEAR 2011
Kelly’s Resort Hotel, Rosslare, Co Wexford

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2011
L’Ecrivain, Dublin 2

CHEF OF THE YEAR 2011
Henry Stone, Sha-Roe Bistro, Clonegal, Co Carlow

PUB OF THE YEAR 2011
Hargadons, Sligo

“JUST ASK” RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR AWARD 2011 sponsored by Bord Bia
Harrys, Bridgend, Co Donegal

NATURAL FOOD AWARD 2011
Boyles of Dromore, Co Down

HIDEAWAY OF THE YEAR 2011
Saratoga Lodge, Templemore, Co Tipperary

TASTE OF THE WATERWAYS AWARD sponsored by Waterways Ireland
Keenans of Tarmonbarry, Co Roscommon

WINE AWARD OF THE YEAR 2011
Kelly’s Resort Hotel, Rosslare, Co Wexford

HOSTS OF THE YEAR 2011
Neil & Noreen Harrington, Virginia’s Guesthouse, Kenmare

BUSINESS HOTEL OF THE YEAR 2011
Crowne Plaza, Dublin Airport

FAMILY FRIENDLY DESTINATION OF THE YEAR 2011
Ballyvolane House, Fermoy, Co Cork

ETHNIC RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2011
China Sichuan, Dublin

ATMOSPHERIC RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2011
L’Atmosphère, Waterford

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 2011
The Fatted Calf, Glasson, Co Westmeath

COUNTRY HOUSE OF THE YEAR 2011
Marlfield House, Gorey, Co Wexford

GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR 2011
Ivyleigh House, Portlaoise, Co Laois

FARMHOUSE OF THE YEAR 2011
Lough Bishop House, Collinstown, Co Westmeath

B&B OF THE YEAR 2011
Carlingford House, Carlingford, Co Louth

CASUAL DINING AWARD 2011
Miss Courtney’s Tea Rooms, Killarney, Co Kerry

GREEN IRELAND HOSPITALITY AWARD 2011
Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Recess, Co Galway

IRISH BREAKFAST AWARDS 2011:

NATIONAL WINNER
Ivyleigh House, Portlaoise, Co Laois

Hotel Breakfast
Kelly’s Resort Hotel, Rosslare, Co Wexford

Farmhouse Breakfast
Lough Bishop House

Guesthouse Breakfast
Ivyleigh House, Portlaoise, Co Laois

B&B Breakfast
Carlingford House, Carlingford, Co Louth