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They Keep on Rolling in.....

Hotel Westport Chef Wins Westport Food Festival Dessert Competition 2012

Congratulations to our very own Becky Bissell, winner of the Professional Dessert Category in the Westport Tourism Dessert competition in conjunction with the Westport Food Festival.  The dessert had to depict the locality of Westport and competitors had to be a locally based chef.

Hotel Westport Wins Top 10 Family Friendly Hotel Award for 2nd Year in a Row

If you want to know where to book that perfect family break look no further - Hotel Westport was once again awarded the Top 10 Family Friendly Hotels Award by Primary Times readers!

This year’s Primary Times STAR AWARDS 2012, as voted for by parents, reveal the best of what Ireland has to offer families. The readers of Primary Times magazines – the largest free family magazines and website in Ireland www.primarytimes.ie – voted for their favourite family friendly businesses. The results of these unique awards in 2012, which attracted thousands of votes from parents, yet again provide a vital snapshot of what’s tops with families in a harsh economic climate - and give the worthy winners a well-deserved round of applause.

Hotel Westport Wins Licencing World Hotel Bar of the Year Award 2012

The Maple Bar at Hotel Westport, Co Mayo, was named Ireland’s Best Hotel Bar Experience at the Licensing World Bar of the Year Awards 2012 in front of 300 members of the licensed and hospitality trade at a gala banquet in Dublin’s Clyde Court Hotel (photography attached), shortlisted alongside prestigious hotels such as The Shelbourne, Druids Glenn, Carton House, The Dillon and the Radission, a Fantastic Achievement for Hotel Westport.

The 4-star Hotel Westport is family owned and is one of the leading luxury hotels in Co. Mayo. Hotel Westport’s Maple Bar, under the stewardship of John MacNamara and Kevin Kennedy, was highlighted for its excellent customer service, friendly and well-trained bar staff and for ‘an all round excellent experience of hospitality and comfort’. Commenting on the achievement Mr Cathal Hughes, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Hotel Westport, said “I am extremely pleased about the numerous great achievements at Hotel Westport recently, which include an A.A. Rosette for Culinary Excellence, Kevin Kennedy representing Ireland in the Havana Club International Cocktail Gran Prix in Cuba and now winning this latest award, The Licencing World Hotel Bar of the Year Award”.

Commenting on the win, Nigel Tynan, Editor of Licensing World and Chairman of the Bar Awards, said ‘Hotel Westport really impressed our judging panel, customer service was truly excellent and bar staff were happy to go above and beyond expectations. It is great to see such a well-run hotel bar that is working to ensure all customers have a truly positive experience. Whether you’re looking for a bite to eat or a quiet pint, or maybe a cocktail with friends, Hotel Westport has something for everyone.’

Declan Heneghan, General Manager of the 4 Star Hotel said ‘this additional National Award which is one of many this year is an outcome of the emphasis the hotel places on customer care and development of its people to deliver excellence to its guests. The Hotel invests in its people and puts the supports in place to deliver. We are committed to a process of continuos improvement in everything we do here at the Hotel. We are committed to innovation also, this of course symptomatic of the general thrust in Westport of quality which was borne out in the duo of National Awards received this week’.

ABOUT LICENSING WORLD BAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

All premises that enter the Licensing World Bar of the Year Awards are visited incognito by an expert panel of judges. Visits take place during April and May. Each entry is assessed on a lengthy series of relevant criteria including welcome, customer service, ambience, staff training, hygiene, décor, product range and customer appeal.

Bar Trade Quote:

‘The Licensing World Bar of the Year Awards is an all-Ireland awards programme dedicated to highlighting and rewarding excellence within the licensed trade. The bar trade is under considerable pressure right now so it’s important to recognise the important role publicans play in Irish society, both as major local employers and as a valuable source of amenities for tourists to Ireland – don’t forget, the pub is consistently named by Lonely Planet as the number one attraction for visitors to this country. Each Finalist in our Bar of the Year Awards is an excellent operator that is dedicated to real customer service and to providing provide an excellent social destination,’ explained Nigel Tynan, editor of Licensing World and chairman of the Bar of the Year Awards.

Kevin Kennedy Named All-Ireland Cocktail Making Champion

Congratulations to Hotel Westport's resident mixologist and Bar Supervisor, Kevin Kennedy, who was named All Ireland Cocktail Making Champion 2012 and went on to represent Ireland in the IBA global cocktail finals in Cuba.

Hotel Westport WINS CIE International Best Hotel Dinner Award!

On 8 February 2012 at a reception in the Shelbourne Hotel, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar announced the winners of the prestigious CIE Tours International Awards of Excellence.

Commenting on the achievement Mr. Cathal Hughes Owner / Director of Hotel Westport, said he was especially pleased about the numerous great achievements at Hotel Westport recently, which included an A.A. Rosette for Culinary Excellence which has served to build and achieve further recognition in the shape of this award of the best Hotel Dinner in Ireland on the C.I.E. tour series.  Speaking at the Awards reception, Minister Varadkar said: “There is no more powerful form of advertising than word of mouth. That is why I am so pleased that CIE Tours is recognising efforts to make Tourists feel welcome.”

Brian Stack M.D. of CIE Tours International said “Our focus is Top Quality Service and these Awards pay tribute to the hard work of those working in the Tourism sector.” This year, over 22,000 of our customers gave their views on accommodation, dining and tourist attractions. The winners of the Awards of Excellence are chosen from an Independent Evaluation of feedback surveys completed by over 22,000 CIE Tours International customers.

4* Hotel Westport Achieves Automobile Association (AA) Rosette Accolade For Culinary Excellence

The 4*Hotel Westport was just this week awarded the much coveted AA Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence. The highly popular Hotel is a favourite venue for weddings, and all types of functions and also features the Islands Restaurant which is regularly frequented by locals and visitors alike.

Commenting on the accolade the Hotel Owner / Director, Cathal Hughes said that “the award was the culmination of all the hard work put in by the Management and all the team at Hotel Westport, especially the Kitchen brigade which is lead by Stephen Fitzmaurice, Fergal Colleran and Ron Morrison”, “the accolade is just reward for the effort, skill and commitment shown by them, and all concerned.

Eithne Cosgrove the Hotels Director of sales & marketing says the award provides an excellent differentiation when marketing the Hotel.  Eithne says that this reward completes a trio of National awards for Hotel Westport this year, including the “Primary Times, Top 10 Hotels in Ireland for a Family Holiday” and also the “C.I.E. International Tours Award of Excellence” which was awarded to Hotel Westport for the third consecutive year.

Declan Heneghan, General Manager at the 4* Hotel says that the award is a quality assurance for customers of the standard they will receive when they dine at Hotel Westport, “guests of the hotel can dine with a sense of confidence and expectation” he says. Customer expectations now look for menus that are exciting, innovative, seasonal and true to the region. This fits nicely with the vision and aspiration as set down by the AA Hotel inspectors for local food heroes including growers, producers, professional chefs and Hoteliers/Restauranters. Certainly the efforts by all at Hotel Westport in this regard is recognised by this award.

The Hotel was awarded the AA Rosette standard for its commitment to producing food which is cooked with skill and attention to detail. Examples of customer favourite dishes include baked oysters, black sole, and duck breast, not to forget the famous Hotel Westport very berry trifle, and a whole range of the other daily homemade desserts and treats, to name but a few.

White Flag Award for 12th Consecutive Year for Ocean Spirit Leisure Centre, Hotel Westport

Ocean Spirit Leisure Centre Manager Tony Hynes and his long serving and dedicated team have recently received recognition from ILAM (Institute of Leisure & Amenity Management), and is endorsed by Failte Ireland and the Irish Hotels Federation, for achieving the White Flag Standard for the 12th consecutive year at the recent National Awards, one of only a few nationwide, and the only Hotel Leisure Centre in Westport to receive such recognition. The White Flag Award recognises best practice in all areas of leisure centre, swimming pool and gymnasium management, and envelopes many areas ranging from hygiene, technical aspects of the job, to good old fashioned hospitality and customer care, for which Tony and his team are famed for. Tony  and the team are currently busy rolling out their Autumn and Winter programmes at the centre and would be delighted to assist you in your plans.

 
To view information about 2012 Local Festivals and Events scheduled for Westport and Co. Mayo, Ireland, click here.