Caption: (L-R) Director of Consumer Affairs at The AA, Conor Faughnan, General Manager of Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD, and Director of Sales & Marketing at Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa, Deirdre O’Brien.
Powerscourt Hotel Resort and Spa has won the AA Hotel of the Year award, marking a real triumph for a hotel that’s been on a transformative journey since changing ownership in 2013.
Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD, presented the accolade to General Manager David Webster in a ceremony held in Dublin Wednesday evening.
A member of The AA’s Secret Hotel Inspectorate commented: “Mr. Webster and the team at Powerscourt Hotel Resort and Spa continue to demonstrate the highest of standards in service and hospitality. They consistently strive to improve the overall operations of the hotel, which is one of the qualities that tipped them as front runners for this award.”
On awarding the top honour, The AA’s Director of Consumer Affairs Conor Faughnan said: “Powerscourt is a superb example of a hotel that has built up and maintained extremely high standards with a continued flair for finesse. The new Powerscourt has become a real part of the local community in Enniskerry and is genuinely loved by locals and visitors alike. It is a wonderful example of Irish talent and entrepreneurial spirit and paves the way for others. I am delighted that the AA is able to recognise this achievement by awarding David Webster and his team the most prestigious accolade for an Irish hotel.”
The AA uses trained inspectors to personally visit every AA accredited hotel for an overnight stay. The assessments of the standards of hospitality, service, cuisine, facilities and staff are the most exacting in the industry. Winners are selected in recognition of excellence in service and hospitality, as well as a clear demonstration of continuous improvement in the preceding 12-18 months.
Suffice to say that for a hotel even to be considered it must have displayed excellence over time. A hotel that achieves the accolade of AA Hotel of the Year can reasonably claim to be the best hotel in Ireland in its category. The award does not necessarily need to go to a five star hotel, although it does this year.
Often referred to as the industry’s ‘Oscars’, the AA Hospitality Awards is a rare time when major players in the hospitality world can get together and recognise the commitment to excellence that so many establishments and individuals strive to provide their guests. This year’s AA Hospitality Awards took place in the sumptuous surrounds of Dublin’s Westbury Hotel on Wednesday 16th September. Other award categories included AA Guest accommodation of the Year and the AA Courtesy and Care Award, which rewards customer care.