TOURISM AWARD: Fiona Ross (Chairperson, CIE), presents the CIE Tours Award for Best Overall Hotel Service and Hospitality to Cahernane House Hotel, at the CIE Tours International 30th Annual Awards of Excellence where Ireland’s best holiday destinations and experiences were recognised based on feedback from over 25,000 visitors. Photo: John Ohle Photography

By Sean Moriarty

Three Killarney-based tourist industry providers were celebrating this week after taking Gold Medals at the CIE Tours International Annual Awards for Excellence.

The awards, which are now in their 30^th year, recognise the best hotels and tourist attractions across Ireland based on feedback from over 25,000 customers throughout the year.

Each winner achieved a customer satisfaction rating of over 92% from CIE Tours International visitors with Gold Award Winners achieving the highest satisfaction ratings in their categories.

It was a special night for Geraldine Rosney of Killeen House Hotel who won her 29^th Gold Award in the Special Dinner Feature category. Geraldine has won the award every year except one, since the awards were first presented 30 years ago.

Cahernane House Hotel won the Gold Award in the Best Hotel Service and Hospitality category while Killarney Horse and Carriage Tours won a Gold Award and was named Best Tour Feature by CIE Tours visitors.

“30 years ago CIE Tours International introduced its annual Awards of Excellence to recognise Ireland’s hospitality ambassadors – the people and businesses throughout the country who put Irish tourism on the global stage through the warmth of welcome and quality of service provided to our international visitors,” said Elizabeth Crabill of CIE Tours International.

[caption id="attachment_29968" align="alignleft" width="1024"] DINNER WINNER: Fiona Ross (Chairperson, CIE), presents the CIE Tours Award for Best Overall Special Dinner Feature to Geraldine Rosney of Killeen House Hotel.[/caption]

“Since then Ireland’s tourism sector has changed utterly and grown in reputation but the demand for excellent experiences remains constant.  Ireland remains an attractive tourism destination for visitors from North America drawn by the diversity and richness of the experiences offered and the warmth of the traditional Irish welcome which should not be underestimated.”

Nine hotels in the town, Killarney Plaza Hotel; Killarney Avenue Hotel; Killarney Towers Hotel; International Hotel Killarney; Great Southern Killarney; Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa; The Brehon Killarney and The Dunloe Hotel and Gardens each received merit awards.

[caption id="attachment_29967" align="alignleft" width="1024"] WINNER: Fiona Ross (Chairperson, CIE) presents the CIE Tours Award for Best Overall Tour Feature to Killarney Horse and Carriage Tours.[/caption]