Triple crown for Westport tourism providers

Triple crown for Westport tourism providers


Áine Ryan

IT’S A triple crown for Westport tourism providers. This week, two of its premier hotels and the historic Westport House and Pirate Adventure Park bask in the glory of recently received awards marking their excellence. 
Long-established Hotel Westport along with historic Westport House are among the best in the country according to the Primary Times Star Awards 2011. While Hotel Westport is among the Top 10 Best Family Friendly Hotels in Ireland, Westport House has been feted as  one of the Best Family Visitor Attractions. Knockranny House Hotel, meanwhile, was recognised for its outstanding cuisine.

Families’ choice
Primary Times (www.primarytimes.ie) is Ireland’s largest free family magazine and website, and its awards are decided by parents and their children aged under 12. The awards are based on customer service, facilities, choice and value for money. 
While Hotel Westport was the only County Mayo hotel to take an award, the other winner in the province was The Galway Bay Hotel.
Meanwhile, Westport House was highly rated by families in the west who voted it as a regional Best Family Visitor Attraction, along with the Aillwee Caves and Bunratty Folk Park.
Both Hotel Westport and Westport House have an exciting programme of Family Holidays scheduled for over the upcoming winter months, including Halloween and Winter Wonderland packages.

Foodies’ haven
The multi-award-winning Knockranny House Hotel received another feather in its cap when last week Head Chef Seamus Commons and La Fougère Restaurant were recognised as the best in Connaught – Best Chef and Best Restaurant – at the Food & Wine Magazine Edward Dillon Restaurant of the Year Awards 2011.
Now in their eleventh year, the Food & Wine Awards were presented recently at a gala luncheon in Dublin’s Convention Centre.
The receipt of the two prestigious Food & Wine Awards follows on from La Fougère’s recent Wine Spectator Award 2011, Spa Salveo’s ‘Irish Tatler Readers Choice Award 2011’, and Knockranny’s overall award of ‘Best Four Star Hotel in Ireland 2010’.