KILLARNEY CONVENTION CENTRE has been awarded the prestigious European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) 5 Star Award for Excellence.

The award-winning team from Killarney Convention Centre collected their accolade at a gala ceremony, hosted by The Centre for Competitiveness (CforC) in association with EFQM, in Bangor last week.

The EFQM Business Excellence ceremony is a prestigious event that recognises the achievements of some of Ireland’s best-managed organisations. Winners undergo rigorous examination and must illustrate their employees’ dedication, low absenteeism, high productivity, customer satisfaction and superior financial performance. All applicants are then independently judged by EFQM approved assessors.

CforC chairman Stephen Kingon said: “This year’s award recipients represent a range of industries and sectors, but they all have a commitment to ensure excellence is an integral part of what they do, so I warmly congratulate them on their achievements.”

“There are many advantages for organisations in taking part in the Ireland Excellence Awards process, and by passionately pursuing quality excellence they become leaner, more profitable, more sustainable and therefore more competitive.”

The Excellence Awards, managed by the Centre for Competitiveness, as the official Country partner of the Brussels based prestigious European Foundation for Quality Management, benchmarks, assesses, and recognises organisations that have demonstrated their commitment to business excellence as an integral part of what they do. The Centre for Competitiveness (CforC) is an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation dedicated to improving quality and competitiveness in the private, public and voluntary sectors.

Killarney Convention Centre joins 30,000 elite organisations across Europe that have used the world-class EFQM model as their blueprint and driver for sustainable competitiveness.

Killarney Convention Centre general manager Breffni Ingerton said: “The benefits of EFQM accreditation are substantial as it provides an international symbol and benchmark of excellence.
“As part of our ‘Journey to Excellence’ we had to demonstrate our excellence in employee management, strategic leadership, high productivity, high levels of customer satisfaction and overall superior business performance.”

Killarney Convention Centre is a purpose-built international conference and events venue with 4,500m2 of space, catering for conferences ranging from 25 to 2,500 delegates. It includes the INEC, The Gleneagle and The Brehon hotels. For further information visit www.killarneyconventioncentre.ie

Killarney Convention Centre team members receiving their EFQM 5 Star Award for Excellence. From left, Les Drew, NIE Networks, Patrick O’Donoghue, Managing Director of The Gleneagle Group, Cara Fuller, Corporate Sales Manager for Killarney Convention Centre, Breffni Ingerton, General Manager of Killarney Convention Centre, Clio O’Gara, Chief Marketing Officer for The Gleneagle Group and Joe Flynn, Friends First.