Westport hotels dominate at Mayo Business awards

Westport hotels dominate at Mayo Business awards


Michael Duffy

THERE was huge excitement last Friday night at the awards ceremony for the Mayo Business Awards 2009 in association with Bord Gaís Networks, when over 200 people from all over Mayo packed the Castlecourt Hotel, Westport, to witness Teresa O’Malley, Head of News at Mid West Radio announce the winners of the ten prestigious awards, three of which ended up going to three Westport hotels - The Plaza, the Clew Bay Hotel and Westport Woods Hotel.
Pre dinner speakers were Cllr Myles Staunton, Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council, who opened the ceremony and Danny Mc Laughlin, President of Westport Chamber who welcomed everyone to the Castlecourt Hotel and said how honoured Westport Chamber were to host the awards this year. 
Mark Holihan, National Sales Manager, Bord Gáis Networks represented the main sponsor and said: “We are delighted to again sponsor the Mayo Business Awards for 2009.  Bord Gáis Networks wishes continued success to the winning businesses and all those involved in the Mayo Business Awards.”
After the meal, Teresa O’ Malley took to the stage and directed the ceremony effortlessly.  She started by explaining that, in terms of adjudication, the 10 awards can be broken down into two areas. These are, those awards judged on written submissions, and those adjudicated on by a mystery shopper.
There were four awards judged in terms of written submissions.  The Best New Business Award was adjudicated by Westbic. The Best Use of eCommerce was adjudicated by the Mayo County Enterprise Board. Gradam Gnó le Gaeilge/ The Business through Irish Award was once again adjudicated by Northern Ireland Screen. The Environment Award was adjudicated by Mayo County Council.
The feedback from the adjudicators in each case was that the quality of entries this year was the best ever and winners were chosen based on the quality of the submissions and in particular the ability of entrants to address criteria as published in the awards brochure.
There were five awards adjudicated on by a mystery shopper; Customer Service in Retail Sector, Services Sector and Tourism and Leisure Sector, Best Commercial  Premises Award and Mayo Pub of the Year Award.
The winners were named as follows: Best New Business Award.
The winner of the Best New Business Award, sponsored by the Mayo County Enterprise Board, was Heatsolve Ltd, Ballina;  Best Commercial Premises Award sponsored by the Connaught Telegraph was won by Patricia Calleary, Planning Consultant and Chartered Engineer, Ballina; the Customer Service Award Retail,  sponsored by The Mayo News was won by Shane Kelly T/As Klassic Kitchens, Castlebar; the Customer Service Award Services Sector sponsored by Tesco was won by Watch Tower Designs, Claremorris; the Customer Service Award Tourism/Leisure Sector, sponsored by Western People was won by The Plaza Hotel, Westport; the Environment Award sponsored by Mayo County Council was won by the Clew Bay Hotel, Westport; the Best Use of eCommerce Award sponsored by Vhi Healthcare was won by Westport Woods Hotel & Spa, Westport; the Mayo Pub of the Year, sponsored by Midwest Radio, was Dillon’s Bar & Restaurant, Ballina; the Gradam Gnó le Gaeilge/ Business through Irish Award sponsored by Údarás na Gaeltachta and Gnó Mhaigh Eo was won by Comhlacht Forbartha Áitiúil Acla Teo, Achill and the  Chamber Recognition for Industry sponsored by Bord Gaís Networks was won by Moran Electrical Services Ltd, Westport.
Ballina and Westport areas had the highest number of entries’ in the awards by far this year and this was reflected in the number of winners from each town on the night. The Mayo Chambers were delighted with the success of the event and thanked all of their sponsors for their continued support in these awards and wished all the finalists the very best of luck and congratulations on getting so far in the competition.