Hastings Hotels scores hat trick at International Awards of Excellence

Northern Ireland hotel group, Hastings Hotels, scored a hat trick at the CIE Tours International Awards of Excellence, held in Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin last week (January 29).

The Culloden Estate & Spa, along with the Grand Central Hotel and Europa Hotel, each picked up a Merit Award, based on post-stay feedback received from 30,000 customers surveyed by CIE Tours throughout 2024.

CIE Tours is the largest operator of guided tours to Ireland in the North American market. Its annual awards of excellence recognise Ireland’s hospitality ambassadors, the people and businesses who put the Irish tourism industry on the global stage through the warmth of welcome and quality of service provided to international visitors.

The three hotels in Belfast were commended for providing an exceptional quality experience and welcome to visitors, with winners on the night achieving an overall customer satisfaction rating of over 95.4%.

This was an increase in the scores achieved across the board from previous years, which the organisers said reflect the return to stability within the sector following the pandemic.

“We are absolutely delighted that our hotels each received these merit awards at the CIE Tours International Awards of Excellence,” said James McGinn, Managing Director of Hastings Hotels.

“To be recognised by our guests for delivering an exceptional quality experience and welcome is the best type of recognition we could ask for. And it is thanks to our dedicated and experienced teams across the hotels that we continue to achieve these prestigious accolades.”

“That we can offer a unique experience unrivalled by any other country is due in no small part to our many partners who work closely with us, taking the feedback from our visitors and continuously refining their offering,” said Aidan Murphy, Chairman of CIE Tours.

“Our honourees are exemplary contributors to our 95.4% guest satisfaction rate, and they all deserve recognition for the excellent roles they play in welcoming visitors to Ireland and ensuring they have a memorable experience.”