Ireland has eight luxury hotels that have been honoured in the annual Forbes Travel Guide awards.
Given the country hosts millions of visitors every year, it is no surprise that we can boast some of the best hotels in the world.
The Forbes awards are a big event in the hospitality calendar, and a good review can have a real impact on the reputation of a hotel.
The glamorous Ashford Castle was the biggest winner from Ireland as it was our only hotel that achieved a five-star rating.
The Co Mayo residence has been one of Ireland’s top hotels for a number of years, and this five-star rating from Forbes is another award to add to the collection.
It was once owned by the Guinness family, and has hosted countless worldwide celebrities throughout the years including John Lennon, John Wayne and Brad Pitt, as well as world leaders such as US President Ronald Reagan, Prince Edward and Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Princess Grace.
There were also three Irish hotels that were awarded a four-star rating by Forbes; The Merrion and The Marker Hotel, both in Dublin and the and the K Club in Co Kildare.
The final Irish hotels on the list were the Westbury, the Fitzwilliam, the Shelbourne and the Intercontinental, all located in Dublin.
They were named in the ‘Recommended’ section of Forbes’ list.
Being given one of the annual awards is a great feather in the cap for hotels.
The Forbes inspectors visit thousands of establishments around the world and assess them on more than 900 objective standards, with exceptional service being one of the key qualities they look for in a hotel.
Filip Boyen, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, said: “We have been committed to championing genuine Five-Star service for more than 60 years, and this year’s winners exemplify the very highest standards in hospitality.
“It is difficult to earn a Forbes Travel Guide rating, and all our Star-Rated winners have shown how incredibly deserving they are of their accolades by demonstrating sheer dedication in their passion for service.”
You can see the full list of winners by visiting Forbes Travel Guide awards.
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