The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
THREE Clare properties won gold medals at the Irish Accommodation Services Institute’s (IASI) National Accommodation Awards last Saturday night.
The awards scheme, designed to recognise excellence in all aspects of accommodation services and standards, features eight categories honouring three, four and five-star hotels, boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts and guest houses, hospitals, nursing homes, colleges and schools.
Doonbeg Lodge won a gold medal in the five-star category, while the Armada Hotel in Spanish Point was honoured with gold in the four-star category. Hotel Doolin received a gold medal in the boutique hotels section.
Accommodation manager for the Armada Hotel and Hotel Doolin, Marian Murnane, who is also one of the longest serving members of staff in the Armada Hotel, said the awards scheme is “a very useful benchmark for accommodation providers throughout the country”.
“We are delighted and honoured to have secured two gold medals in this prestigious awards programme, considering the significant number of other high-profile hotels that also competed for awards,” she said.
“This awards scheme promotes the ongoing requirement for Ireland’s hospitality sector to maintain the highest quality standards. At Hotel Doolin and the Armada Hotel, we pride ourselves on continually seeking ways to attract new business, while at the same time maintaining excellence in accommodation service standards for quality, hygiene and cleanliness of our bedrooms and public areas,” Ms Murnane added.
The National Accommodation Awards were announced as part of the IASI’s annual conference in the Armada Hotel, the first time that the conference has been held in County Clare.
IASI president Ines Guerra congratulated Clare hotels on their respective awards, adding, “In an increasingly competitive international market our members must ensure they are delivering the highest quality service at all times. This certainly is the case at Hotel Doolin and the Armada Hotel which are worthy winners of the gold medal in our awards scheme.”
